Brussels, 15/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 18 November, the EU foreign affairs ministers will again discuss the Eastern Partnership during their last Foreign Affairs Council before the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on 28-29 November. The ministers, who initially should have taken a decision on whether or not to sign the association agreement with Ukraine, are expected to postpone the final decision, but “they will assess the situation in view of the three criteria” laid down by the Council on 10 December 2012, several sources have said. “My prediction is that a decision will not be taken about the signature and the provisional application of the agreement”, said a European diplomat. “The fact that the EU is not deciding on Monday is a political message that Ukraine must do more”, the diplomat added. “It can always be arranged to decide later”, said another diplomat. This source added that the ministers “are not forced to decide on Monday” 18 November. If the decision is not taken during the Council, it could be taken by written procedure at another formation of the Council or during an exceptional Foreign Affairs Council when sufficient progress has been made, said the first diplomat.
The EU foreign affairs ministers may also discuss the situations of other partners - including Georgia and Moldova, with which countries the EU is due to initial association agreements during the summit, and also Armenia, which has decided to join the customs union with Russia. The ministers will also prepare the final summit statement, which is unlikely to include Article 49 (referring to a possible accession) because of opposition from several member states.
The ministers will also discuss the political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina over bringing their constitution into line with the Sejdic/Finci ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, and the resolution of the long-term political dysfunction. The ministers will discuss the pressure that the EU can exert at a time when the European Commission has launched a procedure to reduce the pre-accession funds for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lunch on the southern neighbourhood before an afternoon on defence. Lunch will be given over to migration issues - particularly migratory flows - at the request of Italy's minister, according to a European source. The ministers are due to adopt conclusions on their support for the transition process in Tunisia, on the instability in Libya, and on the migratory issues that concern it. Egypt will also be discussed at a time when the state of emergency that was in place for three months has just been lifted. The Council will adopt conclusions on the regional impact of the Syrian crisis (including from a humanitarian point of view with the refugees) and the ministers will also discuss a political resolution to the conflict.
During the meeting, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is due to inform the ministers about the ongoing discussions with Iran, the latest dialogue with Serbia and Kosovo on 6 November, and cooperation between the EU and Burma after the task force on 14 November (see other article). The ministers will also prepare the 16th summit between the EU and China, which will take place on 21 November.
The afternoon will be dedicated to defence and the preparation of the European Council in December with the participation of the European foreign affairs and defence ministers. The ministers for defence will continue their discussions on 19 November. (CG/transl.fl)