THE Government has proposed that the next EU treaty contain "a clear, emphatic and unqualified reference to combating illegal drug trafficking" as one of the tasks of the Union, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said yesterday.

The Irish Presidency of the European Union has also proposed that decisions on issues relating to asylum, immigration, visas and border controls be taken in future under the "first pillar" of the EU.

This would mean that many such decisions could be taken by a majority, and that the European Commission, Parliament and Court would play a role in the decisions.

At present, decisions are taken under the Union's "third pillar", meaning that they require unanimity among the 15 member states.

Speaking to a joint meeting of the Oireachtas European Affairs and Foreign Affairs Committees yesterday, Mr Spring said there was broad support for this proposed change, but that a few EU member states were objecting to moving away from the requirement for unanimity.

Mr Spring was reporting to the Oireachtas committees on progress at the Union's Intergovernmental Conference, which is working on a EU treaty to improve efficiency before the admission of new members.

The Irish presidency remains on target "to fulfil our mandate to produce a draft outline of a revised treaty in time for consideration at the European Council in December", he said. Last weekend's informal EU summit had been important for two reasons, he said.

Firstly, all member states restated a commitment to meeting the deadline for treaty revisions.

Secondly, it was clear that "there is a widespread willingness to pursue ambitious objectives in terms of the content of the Treaty" in the areas of employment, justice and home affairs.

On employment, the presidency had put forward a text of a provision in the treaty that would state several principles relating to employment, and outline some specific provisions.

This text had widespread support, but he agreed that "some member states" - a reference to Britain - had not yet accepted that this should be in the treaty.

The employment provisions proposed would:

. Strengthen the objectives of the Treaty in relation to employment.

. State that employment is a matter of common concern for member states.

. State that employment would be taken into account in the implementation of all EU policies.

. The specific provisions proposed include:

. Co ordination and mutual surveillance of member states' employment policies.

. EU comparative studies of employment in different member states.

. An employment committee to advise the Council of Ministers.