 of Justice. If the European Court of Justice is given powers over parts of the total scope of Schengen cooperation, if it ever comes to full integration of Schengen into the European Union, we shall need to regulate the position of Norway and Iceland in greater detail. And the case law of the European Court of Justice in relation to Norway and Iceland is nothing new; there are also special links to the Court's case law under the European Economic Area. The question is whether, if Schengen is ever integrated under the third pillar, it will still be possible to differentiate. Of course, that is just a question of good drafting and good implementation of the agreements, so that one little signature concerning the integration of Schengen does not create great confusion about what exactly Norway and Iceland are tied to and what they are not tied to; that is simply a question of good agreements and my feeling is that within the whole concept of flexible cooperation under the third pillar this is no big deal.

Posselt
Mr President, I represent Bavaria here, and I should like to ask you first of all whether the timetable has been fixed for the accession of Austria and Italy to the Schengen Agreement and what you can tell us about the current timetable for accession. Secondly, I should like to ask you about security at the eastern borders of the European Union.

Patijn
As President of the Council I cannot and should not answer the question about when and how Austria will sign the Schengen Treaty. I hope you will appreciate that, and concerning your further question about security at the Union's eastern frontier, I suggest you put it first to the appropriate authority in Bonn, in line with the usual rules on subsidiarity.

Lindqvist
I would like to link this to the question asked by Mr Sjöstedt a moment ago concerning the confusion which could arise if the Intergovernmental Conference proposes that the Schengen Agreement be incorporated into EU law. My question is: Would it not be more sensible to wait until the existing agreements have been discussed in the respective Parliaments of Sweden, Norway and Iceland? There could be great confusion if the Schengen Agreement is incorporated into EU law before these agreements have been ratified by the respective parliaments.

Patijn
You are putting a question now not to the President of the Council but to a member of the Intergovernmental Conference; I must make the distinction. I should say firstly that it is not every year that we have
of Justice. If the European Court of Justice is given powers over parts of the total oscilloscope of Schengen cooperation, if it always comes to full consolidation of Schengen into the European Union, we shall need to baffle the position of Norway and Iceland in greater contingent. And the character law of the European Court of Justice in sexual intercourse to Norway and Iceland is nothing new; there are besides special links to the Court's case law under the European Economic Area. The doubt is whether, if Schengen is ever integrated under the third pillar, it will still be possible to distinguish. Of course, that is just a question of adept drafting and good implementation of the agreements, so that one small signature concerning the integration of Schengen does not create great confusion about what precisely Norway and Iceland are tied to and what they are not tied to; that is simply a question of good agreements and my feeling is that within the whole concept of flexible cooperation under the third pillar this is no big deal. 

 Posselt 
 Mr President, I represent Bavaria here, and I should like to ask you first of all whether the timetable has been fixed for the entree of Austria and Italy to the Schengen Agreement and what you can state us about the current timetable for accession. second, I should wish to ask you about security at the eastern borders of the European Union. 

 Patijn 
 As President of the Council I cannot and should not suffice the question about when and how Austria will bless the Schengen Treaty. I hope you will appreciate that, and concerning your further question about security system at the Union's eastern frontier, I suggest you put it first to the appropriate authority in Bonn, in line with the common rules on subsidiarity. 

 Lindqvist 
 I would like to link this to the question asked by Mr Sjöstedt a moment ago refer the confusion which could arise if the Intergovernmental Conference proposes that the Schengen Agreement be incorporated into EU law. My question is: Would it not be more reasonable to wait until the existing agreements have been discussed in the respective Parliaments of Sweden, Norway and Iceland? There could be great confusion if the Schengen Agreement is incorporated into EU law before these agreements have been ratified by the respective fantan. 

 Patijn 
 You are putting a motion now not to the President of the Council but to a member of the Intergovernmental Conference; I must do the distinction. I should say firstly that it is not every class that we have
 of Justice. If the European Court of Justiew is gmven posers ovef parts of the total scope oh Scyengeb cooperation, if it evdr comes no full ibtegcation of Schengxh into bke Eudlpeau Nnion, we shall keed to regglate the posidiun of Norway and Iceland in greater dqtail. Amd the case law jf tnq Eudopean Court of Justice in relatioh to Nogway and Iceland os nothing new; there are apso dpecial links to tje Court's cqse jqw under the European Tcmnomic Arez. The question is whether, if Scfengeu is ever ibtwgrwjed under thx thirq pillar, it will stinl be ppssible to difnerenviatw. Of course, that is jnst a question of gojd draftitg and good implemebtqtion of dhe xtredmehtx, ao thah oie little sjgnature cobcerning the integrstyin of Schengeh does njt create great confusion about what exdctmy Norway and Iceland aee tied to and what tjey are njt tied to; that is simply a question of good agreamenta anb my fdwllng is that within the whole concept of flexifme cpoperation undcr the third pillat hhof is no big dgal.

Posszmt
Jr President, I repgesent Favarua here, agd I should like to ask you firwt of all whvthee the timetable had been fixeb for jhe acvession of Austria and Ntaly fo the Schejgen Agresoent and what yoj csn tell us about the current timetablx for accesskon. Xecondjy, I shoulf likc to ask you about decurnty ad the eastfrn borders of the European Union.

Patijn
As Prexigenn of the Eouncik I cannot anq should not auswer thz quesgion about when aid how Austrya will sign dje Schengen Vreaty. I rope you will aooreciate that, snd concegnnng your durther question anout rscurity at the Buiin's eastern fromtidr, Y dujgest fou put it fhrst to yhe aopropriate cughoroty in Bonn, in line fith the usual rules om fubsidiatity.

Lindqdist
I would loke to link this tl the quxstion ashed by Mr Sjöstedt a moment ago concernijg bhe confusion whigh cjuld arise if the Intergovernmental Conference priposes that the Scyengen Agreement be lncorporated into EU law. Mf question is: Would ut not be more seksible to wait until tge exivting agreements have been discussed in the respective Parliaments of Sweden, Nirway enq Iceland? Tgere coulg ye yreat cjnfudmon if the Schengvn Agreement is incorporated intu EU law bzfore these agreements have brev ratified by the respective parliamehts.

Patijm
You are putting a question now not to the President of the Coubcil gut to a mxmber of the Intergofernmeutal Cinferenxe; I must make thd dosbinction. I shonld say firstly that it is not evert year tjat we have
of Justice. If the European Court of given over parts the total scope ever to full integration Schengen into the Union, we shall need to regulate position of Norway and Iceland in greater detail. And the case law of European Court of Justice in relation to Norway and Iceland is nothing new; are special to Court's case law under the European Economic Area. The question is whether, if Schengen is ever under the third pillar, it will still be to differentiate. Of course, is just a question of drafting good implementation the so one little signature the integration of Schengen does not create great confusion about what exactly Norway and Iceland are tied and what not tied that simply question of good my feeling is that within the flexible cooperation under the third pillar this is big deal. Mr President, I represent Bavaria here, I should like to ask you first of whether the timetable has been fixed for the accession of Austria and Italy to the and what you can us about the timetable accession. I like to you about security at the eastern borders of the European Union. As President of the Council I cannot and should not question when and how will sign the Schengen I you will appreciate that, your question the eastern I suggest you put first to the appropriate authority Bonn, in line with Lindqvist I would like to link this to question asked by Mr Sjöstedt a moment concerning the confusion which could arise if the Intergovernmental Conference proposes that Schengen Agreement into EU law. My question is: Would it be more sensible to until the existing agreements have been discussed in the Parliaments Sweden, Norway Iceland? There could great confusion if Schengen Agreement is EU law these have the respective parliaments. Patijn You are a now not to the President the to a member of the Intergovernmental Conference; I must make the distinction. I should say it is not every that have
 of Justice. If the European CouRt of JusticE is giVen PowErS oveR parTs of the total scOPe of schengen cooperation, if iT ever CoMEs to FUlL inteGration OF SCHEngEn InTo tHe eUrOpean uniOn, we shaLl need to reGulAtE the position OF NOrway and IcElaNd in greater dEtaIl. And tHe CasE Law of The europEan CouRT of JusTice in relAtIOn to NoRWay and ICELaNd is Nothing new; there arE AlSO special links tO the CoUrT'S cASE laW unDer the EuroPeAn EcoNOmic AreA. thE QUEstIOn is whether, if schengen is eVEr iNtegraTeD unDEr the tHird pIlLAr, iT will still bE posSible to diFferenTIate. Of cOUrse, thaT is jusT a qUesTion OF gOoD drAfTIng ANd GooD ImpLementatIoN oF the aGreeMENTS, so tHat One lIttle Signature concErnIng tHE inTegraTion oF SchEnGen doEs not cReate GrEat confusion aboUt whAt exactly norWaY anD ICelanD Are tieD to And What theY are not TIed To; THAT iS simply a question of GoOD AgReements And my fEElInG Is that wiThIn tHe whOLE concEpt oF FlExible coOperatIOn UnDer the tHiRd pillAr ThiS is No big DEal.

POsselt
mr PresidEnt, I rEPresent Bavaria HEre, and I should LIkE TO aSK you FirSt of all whetHer tHE timEtabLE hAs bEEn fixEd for ThE AcCEssion of Austria and ITaLy to thE ScheNgen Agreement And what you CAN Tell us abOut tHE cURrent timetable For acCession. SecONdly, I shoUld liKe to ask yOu about seCURity at thE eaSteRn bOrdERS oF the European UNIOn.

PaTiJn
As PreSidEnt of thE CoUncIl I CanNoT and shoulD not answEr ThE qUeStiOn aboUT when and HoW AuStRia Will sIGn the SChengEn TrEaTy. i HopE you wilL ApPREciaTe ThAt, anD coNcErninG youR FurTher queStion abouT seCUritY aT tHe Union'S eastern frontIeR, I suggest yOu Put It firsT TO the apprOpriate authority in Bonn, iN Line witH thE usuaL rulEs on subsiDiaRity.

LiNdqVIst
I woUld likE to liNk ThiS TO the qUEStIon AsKed by Mr SjöSTEdt A momeNt Ago cOncerniNg the confusion whicH CouLd arise if the INteRgovERNmEntAL CONfeReNCe pROPoses that the SchEngen AgreeMeNT bE incorporaTEd iNtO EU law. MY questiOn is: WOUld it noT be more seNsible to wAiT untIL The Existing agReements Have been dIScussED iN the rEspEctive paRliAmentS of SweDEn, NOrway And IceLaNd? TherE coulD bE great coNfusion if the Schengen AgrEement Is incOrpOrated intO EU LAw bEfore thesE agrEements havE beEn rAtifiEd bY The reSpecTIvE paRLiameNts.

PATijn
You arE PuTtiNG A qUestion now nOT TO thE PresIdeNT of the counCil but to a member of THe IntergovernmEntaL cOnfEreNCe; I mUsT make the distinCtiOn. i SHould say FiRstly that it Is not eveRy YEar thAt we haVe
 of Justice. If the Europe an Court o f Jus tic e i sgive n po wers over part s  ofthe total scope of Sch engen  c o oper a ti on, i f it ev e rc o mes  t oful li nt egrat ion  of Sch engen into  th eEuropean Uni o n,  we shallnee d to regulat e t he pos it ion of No rwa y and  Icela n d in g reater de ta i l. And the cas e la w of  the European Cou r to f Justice in r elatio nt oN o rwa y a nd Iceland  i s not h ing new ;  t h e r e a r e also specia l links tot heCourt' scas e  law u nderth e  Eu ropean Econ omic  Area. Th e ques t ion isw hether,  if Sc hen gen  ise ve rint eg r ate d  u nde r  th e thirdpi ll ar, i t wi l l s till  be  pos sible  to different iat e. O f  co urse,  that  isju st aquesti on of  g ood drafting an d go od implem ent at ion  o f the agreem ent s,so that  one li t tle  s i g n at ure concerning the  i n t eg ration o f Sche n ge nd oes notcr eat e gr e a t con fusi o nabout wh at exa c tl yNorwayan d Icel an d a retiedt o an d what  they ar e not tied to; thati s simply a qu e st i o no f go odagreementsandm y fe elin g  i s t h at wi thinth e  w h ole concept of flex ib le coo perat ion under the  third pil l a r  this is  nob ig deal.

Posselt 
Mr P resident,I  represe nt Ba varia he re, and I s hould li ketoask  yo u fi rst of all wh e t herth e timet abl e has b een  fi xed  fo rthe acces sion ofAu st ri aand  Ital y  to theSc hen ge n A greem e nt and  what  you  c an tel l us ab o ut t he c ur re nt t ime ta ble f or a c ces sion. S econdly,I s h ould  l ik e to as k you about s ec urity at t he  ea sternb o rders of  the European Union.

P a tijn
As  Pr eside nt o f the Cou nci l I ca nno t  and s houldnot a ns wer t he qu e s ti onab out when a n d  ho w Aus tr ia w ill sig n the Schengen Tre a ty.  I hope you w ill  app r e ci ate th a t,an d  co n c erning your fur ther quest io n  a bout secur i tyat  the Un ion's e aster n  fronti er, I sug gest youpu t it f irs t to the a ppropria te author i ty in Bo nn, i n l ine wi th  th e usu al rul e s o n sub sidiar it y.

Li ndqvi st 
I would  like to link this to t he que stion  as ked by Mr  Sj ö ste dt a mome nt a go concern ing  th e con fus i on wh ichc ou lda riseif t h e Intergo v er nme n t al  Conference p r opo ses t hat the Sc heng en Agreement be i n corporated int o EU l aw.  My ques ti on is: Would i t n ot b e more s en sible to wa it until  t h e exi stingagreem ents ha v e  b e en dis cuss edin the re spe ct i ve Parl ia me n ts ofSwed en , Norw ay and Icel a n d? There could b e gre a t  conf u sio n ifth e Schen g en A greement i s incorpora ted in to E U law  before  t hese a gre em ents haveb een ratif ied b y the r es pect ive  parli amen t s .

Pa tijn 
Y ouare putti n g  a qu es t ion  now  notto  the  Presiden t  of theCou n cil but  t o a m embero ft h e Intergov ern menta l Conference ;  I m u st makethe di stinct ion. Is hou ld  say fi rst l y  that itis not ev e ryye ar t hat we h av e
 of_Justice. If_the European Court of_Justice is_given_powers over_parts_of the total_scope of Schengen_cooperation, if it ever_comes to full_integration_of Schengen into the European Union, we shall need to regulate the position of_Norway_and Iceland_in_greater_detail. And the case law_of the European Court of_Justice in_relation to Norway and Iceland is nothing new;_there_are also special_links to the Court's case law under the European_Economic Area. The question is whether,_if Schengen is_ever_integrated_under the third pillar,_it will still be possible to_differentiate. Of course, that is just_a question of good drafting and good_implementation of the agreements, so that_one little signature concerning the_integration of_Schengen does not create great_confusion about what_exactly Norway_and Iceland are_tied to and what they are_not tied to;_that is simply a question of_good_agreements and my_feeling_is_that within_the whole concept_of_flexible cooperation_under_the third pillar this is no_big_deal.

Posselt
Mr President, I represent Bavaria here, and_I should like to_ask_you first of all_whether the timetable has been_fixed for the accession of Austria_and Italy_to the_Schengen Agreement and what you can tell us about the current_timetable for accession. Secondly, I should_like to ask you_about security_at_the eastern borders_of_the European_Union.

Patijn
As President of the Council I cannot_and should_not answer the question about when_and how Austria will_sign_the Schengen Treaty. I hope you_will appreciate that, and concerning your_further question about security at_the_Union's_eastern frontier, I suggest you_put it first to the appropriate_authority in Bonn,_in line with the usual rules on_subsidiarity.

Lindqvist
I_would like to link this to_the_question asked by Mr Sjöstedt a_moment_ago_concerning the confusion which could_arise if the Intergovernmental Conference proposes_that the Schengen Agreement be incorporated into EU law._My question is:_Would it not be more_sensible_to_wait until the existing agreements have been discussed in the_respective Parliaments_of Sweden, Norway_and Iceland? There could be great confusion if the Schengen_Agreement is incorporated into EU law before_these agreements have been ratified by the respective parliaments.

Patijn
You are putting_a question now not to the President of_the Council but to a member of_the Intergovernmental Conference; I_must_make the distinction. I should say firstly_that_it_is_not every year_that we have