The European Council met in Göteborg on 15 and 16 June to issue political guidance for the Union.

It confirmed the breakthroughs in the negotiations and agreed on the framework for the successful completion of the enlargement, and took forward the debate on the future of the Union. At the start of proceedings, an exchange of views was conducted with the President of the European Parliament, Mrs Nicole Fontaine, on the main topics for discussion. Enlargement and globalisation present the European Union with great opportunities and challenges. With the open debate on the future of the Union, preparations are under way for an Intergovernmental Conference in 2004. Together with ongoing efforts to reform and modernise structures and working methods, this will serve to adapt the Union's founding Treaties and its institutions to new realities and to the demands of its citizens. The ratification process for the Treaty of Nice will continue so that the Union is in a position to welcome new Member States from the end of 2002. In respect of the Irish referendum, the European Council confirms the conclusions adopted by the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 11 June, including willingness to contribute in every possible way to helping the Irish government find a way forward. It reaffirms its commitment to enlargement and to sustaining the good progress in the accession negotiations. Important steps have been taken towards forging a partnership with Russia based on shared values, intensified dialogue and progress in areas of strong EU interest. At the recent EU-Russia Summit it was agreed inter alia to promote closer dialogue and cooperation on political and security matters in Europe, to elaborate the concept of a common European economic space, to pursue dialogue on energy cooperation and to launch cooperation on aviation matters, including trans-Siberian over-flights. A key decision at the Stockholm European Council was to open up EIB lending for selected environmental projects in Russia. Progress already made by the EIB towards possible financing of priority projects is welcome. Other positive developments are the beginning of a dialogue at ministerial level on Justice and Home Affairs, the resumption of the dialogue between Finance Ministers and the initiation of a dialogue on Kaliningrad.