Brussels, 30/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 31 January, the foreign affairs ministers meeting in the Council will discuss - apart from Mali and Syria (see other articles) - relations with the United States. This discussion, which was postponed at the last Councils due to a lack of time, should allow the ministers to assess what the United States foreign policy under the Obama II administration might be, said a European source, adding that they should say what the main messages are that High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton should pass on to the American government. The re-engagement of the USA in the Middle East peace process should be one of these points. The Council could also discuss the possible negotiations on a free trade agreement.
The Southern neighbourhood will also be tackled. The Council will discuss Egypt and the Arab Spring - a subject that the European Council will examine on 7-8 February. The ministers are due to adopt conclusions without debate on EU support to border management in Libya, with the aim of putting in place a foreign mission for the summer at the latest, and on regional integration in the Maghreb. In addition, they will adopt conclusions on EU support for sustainable change in societies in transition.
Over lunch, the Council will be asked to support the measures proposed for a European policy on the Arctic, and to reaffirm its support for the EU request to become an observer in the Arctic Council.
Ashton will also give a report on the recent summits - the EU-CELAC summit and the EU-Russia summit. The Swedish, Bulgarian, and Polish foreign ministers are due to inform their counterparts of their joint visit to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in December. (CG/transl.fl)