Union summit in Greece a success despite protests

EU Summit: The EU is now more united on foreign policy than most would have imagined possible a few weeks ago, writes Denis …

EU Summit: The EU is now more united on foreign policy than most would have imagined possible a few weeks ago, writes Denis Staunton, in Thessaloniki

The northern Greek city of Thessaloniki was returning to normal yesterday after Saturday's clashes between police and rioters who broke away from a peaceful demonstration. Police arrested 60 people after a few hundred protesters ran amok in the city centre, setting a McDonald's alight and breaking windows in shops and banks.

Earlier in the afternoon, about 30,000 people had demonstrated against the war in Iraq, the failure of rich countries to alleviate poverty in the developing world, and global capitalism. Many of the EU leaders who had been meeting almost 100km away had left Greece by the time the protests began and the authorities made sure there was little or no contact between the demonstrators and those attending the summit.

The summit itself was a success, reflecting the skilful and sensitive chairmanship of Mr Costas Simitis during the Greek presidency. Only weeks after the end of the bitterly divisive Iraq war, the 15 EU member-states and the 10 states due to join next year were able to unite on the start of a new security policy that stresses multilateralism but allows for the use of "hard power" or military force to back up diplomatic and economic instruments.

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This week's EU-US summit in Washington finds the EU more united in its approach to foreign policy than most would have imagined possible a few weeks ago. In their closing communiqué, the leaders expressed their conviction that "the development of transatlantic relations on an equal footing remains of fundamental importance in every domain, not only for the two sides but also for the international community".

The leaders made clear they were not budging in their opposition to US demands for an agreement to prevent US soldiers being brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"The European Union strongly supports the ICC as an important step forward in the implementation of international humanitarian law and human rights. We will continue to work actively for the universality of the court and contribute to its effective functioning," they said.

The leaders' response to Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's draft constitution was overwhelmingly positive, with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, among the most enthusiastic. They agreed to launch an inter-governmental conference in October to complete negotiations on the text.

The Convention on the Future of Europe will meet twice next month to complete "some purely technical work" in drafting Part III of the constitution. The Government is determined to ensure that these meetings will not become an opportunity to reopen deals already agreed or to push for the abolition of national vetoes in sensitive areas.

The leaders expressed their support for the road map for peace in the Middle East and called on Hamas and other groups to immediately declare a ceasefire. They asked Israel to abstain from extra-judicial killings, to reverse the settlement policy, end land confiscations and stop building a security fence around Palestinian territory.

The summit issued tough warnings to Iran and North Korea to co-operate with nuclear non-proliferation authorities. It promised to help with a rehousing programme for Timorese refugees in Indonesia and urged Burma to release pro-democracy leader Ms Aung San Suu Kyi immediately.

The leaders expressed concern about the violation of the rights of dissidents in Cuba.

The summit's biggest disappointment was its failure to pledge €1 billion to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The leaders said the EU's contribution would be determined at a donors' conference in Paris next month.