ANNEX III.1

COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS of 20 June 1994 concerning the possible application of Article K.9 of the Treaty on European Union to asylum policy

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Article K.1 thereof,

NOTES the progress made in asylum policy cooperation in recent years on the basis, in particular, of the programme approved by the Maastricht European Council,

Aware of the need to intensify such cooperation, AGREES to implement as soon as possible the new instruments available to it under the Treaty on European Union. They will make it possible to improve the effectiveness of the measures adopted in the framework of the Union in implementation of the priority programmes to be drawn up.

HAS TAKEN cognizance of the Commission report on the application of Article K.9 to asylum policy, as provided for in paragraph 2 of the declaration contained in the Final Act of the Treaty on European Union.

NOTES that, in the Commission's view, application of Article K.9 would offer certain advantages. It considers however, like the Commission, that the time is not yet right to propose such application so soon after the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union. Nevertheless, it believes that it might be advisable to reconsider this matter at a later date in the light of experience and by the end of 1995 at the latest.