It has been some time now since the EM on the above proposal was submitted in 2002. As reported then and subsequently, there has been no support amongst Member States for Community accession to these organisations. It has, however, never been withdrawn.

  We understand that the Commission is still interested in the possibility of pursuing the IMO proposal. The Government view continues to be that we see no obvious benefit in terms of handling Community business in the IMO by changing the Commission's current observer status to that of Community membership. The European Commission has had observer status at the IMO as an Inter-Governmental Organisation (IGO), since an exchange of letters between the 2 parties in 1974, which was approved by IMO Council and Assembly. As a matter of EC law the Commission entered into the Exchange on the basis of what is now Article 302 TEC. The current arrangements work well and therefore the Government, supported by Member States, remains opposed to European Commission aspirations for Community membership of the IMO.

  On ICAO, we have had no indication that the Commission is likely to reopen the matter in the near future. Instead, as agreed with Member States, the Commission has taken steps to strengthen its role in co-ordinating European inputs to discussions in ICAO. As well as co-ordinating the line to be taken by individual Member States in advance in Council Working Group in Brussels, the Commission now has a permanent representative in Montreal who facilitates co-ordination of the European view on the spot and who himself seeks Observer status on a case by case basis where discussions touch on particular matters of Community competence. The Government considers that this level of co-ordinating activity by the Commission is justified by the advantages to be gained from having Europe speak with one voice in this important international forum.

  There is still no indication that any forthcoming Presidency intends to take the proposal forward, and I am afraid it remains unclear whether the Commission will attempt either to revive it or replace it with a new document. Should this happen we would, of course, submit a new EM.

7 November 2007