Brussels, 24/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday evening on 24 March, EU heads of state and government meeting at the European Council dinner, were due to discuss the situation in Libya. As we go to press, it is still not clear whether the EU can or will (there are divisions on the ongoing military intervention) give an official position on the military and political course of the action and its ultimate goal. France and the United Kingdom, the spearheads of intervention, obviously want the European Council conclusions to express at least the EU's satisfaction that the European no-fly zone has prevented Gaddafi's troops from committing new massacres against the Libyan people and taking over Benghazi. Even Germany, Poland and other member states that have chosen not to participate in military operations should be able to support such an evaluation. It is not expected that the conclusions of the European Council on other questions will go further than those adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 21 March (EUROPE 10341). In this text, the EU27 welcome the 1973 UN Security Council Resolution and reiterate their determination to participate in its implementation but in a “differentiated” manner. The heads of state and government are also expected to confirm that the main EU goal is to protect the civilian population and help the Libyan people meet its aspirations and accomplish a democratic society. Similarly to the ministers for foreign affairs on Monday, the European Council is also expected to again call for Gaddafi to “relinquish power immediately”. The EU27 were not expected to debate the military details of the intervention, which only concern some of the member states. This is even more the case given that the two main protagonists of the operation, France and the United Kingdom, do not share the same views on the transfer of the command for the operation to NATO. France agrees that NATO can take command of the military operation but not for “piloting its policy”. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, considers that NATO ought to lead the international coalition's operations “as soon as possible”.
Southern Neighbourhood. On Thursday evening, leaders are also expected to discuss the future of relations with countries in the region, on the basis of the orientations developed at the European Council on 11 March. The conclusions seen by our EUROPE publication, request “rapid progress” to be made in the following areas: - the EU and its member states stepping up their humanitarian assistance; - the EU continuing its dialogue with the countries of the region concerned on financial and technical support to improve the control and management of borders and measures to facilitate the return of migrants to their countries of origin; - agreement being reached by June 2011 on the regulation enhancing the capabilities of Frontex; -the ceiling for EIB operations for Mediterranean countries undertaking political reform being increased by €1 billion; - work rapidly advancing on the Commission's proposal to extend to EIB operations in the Southern neighbourhood the possibility to re-invest funds reflowing from past operations; - EBRD shareholders considering the possible extension of the Bank's activities to countries in the Southern neighbourhood; - the proposals on pan-Euro-Mediterranean rules of origin being adopted without delay. (H.B./transl.fl)