Brussels, 17/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The prospects of reactivating the peace process in the Middle East and the attitude to be adopted by the EU given Palestinian leaders' continued (and ever more pressing) push for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by the end of the year, will be two key subjects under discussion by foreign ministers meeting on Monday 20 June in Luxembourg. The idea floated by Catherine Ashton, who is to chair the Council, is to tackle all the other points on the Council agenda before lunch, which will be entirely devoted to a debate on the Middle East. The Council will begin at 9.30am and will be preceded, during the morning, by an EU-Algeria Association Council. Late afternoon Monday, a ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans Forum will be held. On Tuesday morning 21 June there will be an EU-Montenegro Association Council.
The full agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday is as follows:
Neighbourhood policy. Ministers will hold a first exchange of views (followed by others) on review of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) proposed by the Commission and the high representative in their recent communication calling for a more generous albeit a more demanding policy with regard to reform (see EUROPE 10386). The Council will adopt conclusions.
Belarus. The Council will discuss the “worrying” situation in this country where President Lukaschenko's regime continues to harass the independent press, the opposition, human rights activists and civil society. Conclusions condemning such measures will be adopted. The EU27 will also decide to add several names to the list of persons affected by current European sanctions (freeze of assets, visa ban). On the other hand, discussion on possible EU economic measures against a number of state enterprises has not made sufficient progress to allow a decision at Monday's Council, diplomats explained on Friday.
Southern neighbourhood. Ministers will discuss the situation in the various countries affected by the Arab spring, and will adopt specific conclusions on Libya, Syria and Yemen. With regard to Libya, Catherine Ashton will brief ministers on the ministerial meeting of the Cairo Group (EU, UN, African Union, Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference - OIC), which will be held on Saturday 18 June in the Egyptian capital, attended by the high representative. Ministers are expected to reiterate their support to the National Transition Council (NTC) of Libya and call for Colonel Gaddafi to leave. As far as Syria is concerned, the 27 EU member states will severely condemn the continuing massacre of the Syrian people and will call on Bashar al-Assad's regime to bring the violence to a halt and to implement political reforms. As things stand, it is not planned to step up current European sanctions but, as sources from the European External Action Service (EEAS) explained on Friday, if the Council were to call on them to extend restrictive measures, then this could be prepared very rapidly. With regard to Yemen, ministers are above all expected to call for a cessation of the violence and for implementation of the draft agreement prepared by the Gulf countries in order to trigger the country's political transition.
Middle East. During their working lunch, ministers will hold an in-depth debate on the basis of a report by Catherine Ashton on her visit to the region this week (see related article). They are expected to reiterate the EU's call for a ministerial meeting of the Quartet as soon as possible in order to rekindle peace talks. The Palestinian leaders' appeal to the EU for collective recognition of the Palestinian state this autumn (see EUROPE 10399) is likely to be evoked but this issue - on which the 27 EU states remain divided - is not considered by the EU to be a priority for now as it feels that a negotiated solution is needed to resolve the problem, sources close to Catherine Ashton explained on Friday.
Albania. The Council will take stock of the fragile and worrying political situation in Tirana after municipal elections held there on 8 May this year. In their conclusions, ministers are expected to call on the leaders of the various parties to finalise the electoral process in an orderly manner in calm and transparency. The Council is also expected to call on Albanian leaders to reactivate the reform process.
Sudan. The Council will update on the situation in the country with a view to the South Sudan declaration of independence scheduled for 9 July, and will adopt conclusions. (H.B./transl.jl)