Brussels, 11/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Re-opening the issue of Ukraine, the EU Foreign Affairs Council will formally adopt autonomous trade measures as well as additional macro-financial aid of €1 billion for Ukraine, when it meets in Luxembourg on Monday 14 April (see EUROPE 11056 and 11052).
While they are not due to take out new sanctions against Russia, the EU foreign affairs ministers could decide on strengthening the phase 2 sanctions by asking the European Commission to work on naming new people to be submitted to restrictions. “There will not be a decision on Monday”, several sources have stated. “Further restrictive measures against individuals will not be taken at this Council”, said a national source. “There will be a discussion on this issue but not a decision. However, the ministers might perhaps ask for a new list (Ed: of people against whom sanctions should be taken)”, added another diplomat. Work on phase 3 of the sanctions is still under way and will not be finished by Monday. Further clarification on this issue is expected in May.
In the conclusions to be adopted, the Council is due to come back to the position that the EU will take at the four-party meeting (EU, US, Russia and Ukraine) in Geneva on 17 April. “We hope that this will be the start of a diplomatic consultation mechanism”, said a European source.
A united response to the energy challenge? The Council is also due to discuss the issue of energy - particularly after 18 member states received a letter from Russia's President Vladimir Putin about the gas supply to Ukraine and also their own supply (see other article). The member states are reportedly in agreement on sending a common reply. “A coordinated reply needs to be made to this letter”, said a European source.
Also due to be debated at Monday's Foreign Affairs Council is a proposal from the UK, Poland and Sweden to set up a common security and defence policy (CSDP) civil mission in Ukraine to support the police and judiciary - but no decision is likely to be taken. The EU countries seem divided on this issue. “For some, this is the time (Ed: to set up such a mission) but others believe the priority should be given to the OSCE mission. The two missions are not in opposition, in principle”, said a national source.
The Council could add four names to the list of those responsible for improper use of public funds in Ukraine (see EUROPE 11032 and 11033).
The EU foreign affairs ministers are also due to discuss - without any decision being taken - the economic implications, as well as customs duties and visa implications, of their refusal to recognise the annexation of Crimea. “These are not sanctions on Crimea but the consequences of its status”, warned another national source. This issue was raised previously in the European Council conclusions of 20 March (see EUROPE 11044).
The Council could also recall its support to Georgia and Moldova - including their association agreements which are due to be singed in June at the latest.
Bosnia and Syria on agenda. Over lunch, the ministers will review the situations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Syria which are due to be the subjects of conclusions. As regards the Syrian crisis, the ministers will address the political issues, including the presidential elections planned for June, and humanitarian issues.
The ministers will also adopt conclusions on Indonesia. They will renew the embargo on delivery to Burma of arms and equipment that can be used for the purposes of internal repression until 30 April 2015. In addition, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will review the situation in Egypt, the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme, the elections in Afghanistan and the peace process in the Middle East - as well as the EU-US summit, the EU-Africa summit, and the visit of the Chinese president.
Defence ministers meeting on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, the EU defence ministers (except the Danish minister) will hold a committee meeting with the director of the European Defence Agency. They will review progress in implementing the conclusions of the December 2013 European Council on the CSDP. The formal meeting of the ministers will begin with a presentation by the European Commission of the communication on a maritime security strategy. An EU strategy on this is due to be adopted by the Council in June.
The ministers will be informed about the initial work of the EU military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA). They will end their meeting, which will also be attended by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, with a discussion on the repercussions of the crisis in Ukraine. (CG and JK)