Brussels, 19/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 23 June, the Foreign Affairs Council is due to adopt measures against Crimea following its annexation by Russia. The measures include a ban on products from Crimea, which would take effect from 25 June after publication in the Official Journal of the EU on 24 June. As the EU does not recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea, the products can benefit neither from the customs duties of Russia, nor from those of Ukraine. If the products are approved by Ukraine, they can then be imported as Ukrainian products.
The ministers could also adopt the concept of crisis management - for a mission as part of the common security and defence policy (CSDP). This concerns reforms in the sectors of justice and law application. “We are in the planning stage”, said a diplomatic source. The mandate would reportedly focus on strategic advice to Kiev, in the bodies concerned. Another source, speaking about this project, said that it will be necessary “to develop a means of having contacts with the regions as quickly as possible”. This could be through mobile teams. “It is only in a second stage, according to the assessment of the strategic advice, that it could be envisaged to open branches or send personnel to the local authorities”, said this source. “We are not at that point for the moment”, the source added, stating that the strategic review and the possible consequences would not take place “for several months”.
The ministers are also due to authorise the signature, on 27 June, of those parties that have not yet signed the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine. The agreement includes a deep and comprehensive free-trade area.
In addition, the Council could return to the situation on the ground in the east of Ukraine, to contact between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents - Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin respectively - and to energy issues.
The ministers will condemn the violence and attacks in Iraq as ISIS fighters have conquered part of the country and called for the formation of a national unity government. The discussions will take place in the presence of the United Nations Representative for Iraq - former Bulgarian foreign affairs minister Nickolay Mladenov.
The Foreign Affairs Council will also return to the political and security situation in Libya. (CG)