THE IRISH EU Presidency is "progressing steadily" towards producing a draft EU treaty in time for the second Dublin summit in December, according to the Tanaiste.
Speaking to the European Parliament yesterday, Mr Spring said the timetable for the treaty negotiations at the EU's Inter-Governmental Conference was on track.
"The political will exists among all member-states to meet the deadline of concluding the IGC by the time of the European Council in Amsterdam in June of next year," he said.
In confirming the timetable, the first Dublin summit had "sent a clear message to the applicant countries waiting for the conference to end so that they can start the accession negotiating process".
Member-states had restated that they wanted to pursue ambitious reform of the EU treaty. They emphasised strengthening the treaty provisions on employment and on combating international crime and drug-trafficking.
There was a growing recognition that the IGC should make changes so the EU could take a more coherent international economic and political role.
Mr John Cushnahan (Fine Gael, Munster) said the presidency should be congratulated on making the fight against drugs a priority.
"Regrettably, however, there is no evidence whatsoever from the Dublin Council or other Council meetings that the same sense of urgency is shared by all member-states." The EU would have to deal with this problem effectively if it was to win European public support for treaty changes.
"How can we expect to demonstrate the relevance of Europe unless we can assure our citizens that we are winning the battle against these forces of evil that prey on the most vulnerable in our society," he said.