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29th Mar 2024

'Wise group' proposal raises series of political questions

A French proposal to set up a wise group to study the future of Europe has caused much public discussion but behind the scenes diplomats are wondering just who should be in it, what it should discuss and when it should deliver its results - all sensitive questions for Brussels politics.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy dropped the idea of setting up a 'council of the wise' on the EU table out of the blue shortly after he was elected earlier this year.

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  • What it should not become, say some diplomats (Photo: EUobserver)

He made it clear that establishing the group would be a quid pro quo for not blocking the EU's membership negotiation talks with Turkey, which he is against.

Since then, despite a lukewarm reception from other member states and the commission, Mr Sarkozy has held firm on the idea last week saying that Paris would block Ankara's EU talks if the committee is not set up in December.

But diplomats are scratching their heads about what exactly the group is supposed to do.

According to one EU diplomat, "no one would want them to have a say as regards the borders [of the EU]."

The group should also not have a say on the "architectural, conceptual or constitutional" aspects of the union, nor should it turn into a "mini-convention," said the diplomat adding that it is "easier" to say what the group should not do rather than what it should do.

Who is to be in it is proving to be another conundrum. With the group make-up still a few weeks away, member states are still apparently going along with the idea that it should be a small group of 12 or 13 people.

But closer to the time, it is likely that each member state will want their own representative in there "just to be on the safe side," said the diplomat.

Whether it should be made up of politicians - which probably means "failed politicians" - or another category of person altogether is also not clear. Among the names being touted to ponder the EU's future include former Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff.

Meanwhile, when the group should give its verdict is also sensitive, with upcoming pro-enlargement presidencies (including Slovenia in the beginning of 2008 and the Czech Republic one year later) seen as reluctant to have the wise council go public with its deliberations under their watch - fearing that it may say something about the EU's final borders.

France's obvious reluctance for the EU to pursue intense bilateral relations with Turkey, coupled with Germany's ultimate preference for partnership rather than full membership, has cast a pall over the state of negotiations.

But so far member states generally have stuck to the line – also firmly pushed by the commission – that the EU should make good on its promise to conduct full negotiations with Turkey.

Portugal, current EU presidency is hoping to open two more legislative chapters for negotiation while Slovenia, as next EU presidency in the first half of 2008 is expected to push for the same tempo to be continued.

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