Brussels, 11/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign affairs ministers meeting in Council on Monday 14 May could decide to step up sanctions against Syria, a European diplomatic source announced on Friday 11 May. According to other diplomats, an “agreement of principle” was found between the ambassadors of the 27 member states. Thus, two businesses and three individuals, considered as sources of financing for the regime, will be affected by an assets freeze and visa ban.
Another diplomatic source, however, said “discussion will continue on Monday. Nothing has yet been decided”. The Foreign Affairs Council is due to discuss the establishment of Kofi Annan's peace plan and assistance that can be provided by the EU. According to one diplomat, European funding from the stability mechanism will be earmarked for supporting observers and for the deployment of some 20 armoured vehicles.
Middle East, Ukraine and Afghanistan on the agenda.
During the Council, ministers will also discuss the Middle East peace plan, and contacts between parties in particular, as well as the situation on the ground and the work of the Quartet. Their conclusions should provide a very good overview of what the EU plans to do in coming months, a diplomatic source said.
Ministers will return to the situation in Libya and discuss cooperation that the EU and member states are seeking to establish in Libya, and border and immigration issues. The Council may also adopt conclusions on the situation in Yemen, in order to confirm its support for an orderly and peaceful transition process. Discussion will cover relations between the EU and Mexico, upstream of the EU-Mexico summit on 17 June in Los Cabos (Mexico).
During lunch, ministers will tackle the situation in Ukraine. They are expected to decide whether to sign the association agreement or whether they should wait before sending a political message with their signature, a diplomat said. The Council will no doubt also reach a common position regarding the Euro 2012 football tournament, that some European leaders wish to boycott because of the treatment received by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and because of her country's “selective justice”. They will also prepare the EU-Russia summit to be held in Saint Petersburg in June and discuss trade and visa issues.
Ministers are to discuss Afghanistan in order to prepare the EU's stance for the NATO summit in Chicago on 20 May, the ministerial conference in Kabul on 14 June and the donors' conference on 8 July. In addition to taking a political stance, they are expected to confirm the EU's provision to contribute to action being undertaken by the international community. A Development Council is to be held on Monday. (CG/transl.jl)