Brussels, 24/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Although the sanctions on Syria come to an end on 1 June and a Council decision is expected on 27 May, the member states were still divided on the arms embargo on 24 May. “The important thing is to send a good political signal”, a diplomat said, adding that all the member states want to keep the European unity “particularly on the sanctions”.
“The political meeting is on Monday, not after”, explained this diplomat, saying that it is possible to do the work on implementation afterwards. “What would be useful would be an agreement on a possible compromise, on one or other option”, another European diplomat added. At the time of EUROPE's going to press on Friday, the ambassadors of the EU were were working on a number of “the most credible” options to present to the ministers.
A “small group of four or five countries” - including Austria, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Hungary - are opposed to any change to the embargo. While some reportedly want to prolong the embargo for as long as possible, others reportedly want its prolongation by a month or two, in conjunction with the Geneva II conference.
“One country” (the United Kingdom), and according to some, France, want “a partial lifting, as substantial as possible” of the embargo so as to leave the way free for possibly sending lethal equipment to the opposition. “No one says that we will completely lift the arms embargo (…) It's a partial lifting of the embargo that we're talking about but which can go through different types of adjustment to the decision”, a diplomat explained, saying that the scope of application could be played with as regards the recipients and material covered. He said that, in order to encourage the opposition to be united and inclusive, “it's necessary to respond to its main demand” - the supply of arms.
Lastly, the majority of member states support amendments to the current package, more by default in order to put up European unity than by any real desire. Some apparently want to prolong the embargo but are ready to negotiate for a compromise, a diplomat explained. The member states want the destination of the weapons to be taken into account, with analysis case by case, respect for the code of conduct on the export of weapons and guarantees possibly being added. Some member states reportedly want a list of materials that can or can't be sent, but other member states consider that this to be complicated - especially with the time limit. All the countries agree on the importance of controlling the destination of the arms but the question is how to carry out this control.
The ministers will adopt conclusions at the Council on Monday.
Middle East and defence on the programme. The ministers will also discuss the Middle East peace process, but the conclusions on this subject will only be adopted at the Council in June. Lunch will be devoted to discussing the CSDP ahead of the European Council on defence in December 2013. The Council will be followed by a dinner with the foreign affairs ministers of the candidate countries in order to discuss the southern and eastern neighbourhood and stability. (CG/transl.fl)