Brussels, 20/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The southern neighbourhood, the Middle East peace process and the functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS) will be the focus of debates at the Foreign Affairs Council to be held in Brussels on the morning of Monday 23 May under the chairmanship of Catherine Ashton. The complete agenda will be on:
Southern neighbourhood. Ministers will discuss the situation in the region and adopt conclusions on Syria, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. According to diplomatic sources, they are also expected to adopt further sanctions against the Iranian regime because of its nuclear programme (see EUROPE 10038), against the regime of Colonel Gaddafi in Libya and against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria (this time, the president will be appearing on the list of individuals whose assets in Europe are frozen and who have a visa ban imposed on them). The complete lists of individuals and/or economic entities hit by these sanctions will not be published until a later date.
Middle East. The Council will discuss the peace process in the light of two significant events in recent days: the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas (the EU27 should therefore finally take a position on Monday on this crucial element) and the speech delivered by US President Barack Obama on 19 May in which the US, for the first time, takes a stance in favour of two states living peacefully alongside each other within borders drawn along 1967 lines. On Monday, ministers will adopt “highly significant” conclusions, as senior European diplomats say, recalling that the EU has always taken a position that is “ahead of the United States” on this dossier due, in particular, to the fact that it has long defended a two-state solution within the 1967 borders.
EEAS. Over lunch, ministers and Catherine Ashton will take stock of the establishment of the diplomatic service and the possibilities of improving cooperation between EU delegations in the world and the national embassies of member states on the spot. They will examine ways in which to improve cooperation between foreign ministers and the EU high representative, and discuss the preparation of Foreign Affairs Councils.
Belarus. Ministers will discuss the political situation and are expected to extend the sanctions already in place.
South Caucasus. Now that Catherine Ashton has decided that the EU is to have a special representative for now and in the future for this region, who would also be responsible for relations with Georgia (the name of the representative was not given), ministers will, on Monday, discuss the situation on the ground as well as the EU policy there.
Human Rights. Within the framework of review of the EU human rights strategy, the 27 member states of the EU will hold a first discussion (that may close in June or July) on future priorities in this field.
Sudan. Ashton will present to ministers the main lines of EU strategy ahead of the declaration of independence that South Sudan is due to proclaim on 9 July this year.
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ashton will brief ministers on her recent visit and on the arrangements agreed with Republika Srpska on cancellation of the referendum planned on the country's central justice system. (H.B./transl.jl)