Brussels, 22/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 22 July, the EU foreign affairs ministers called on the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) to finalise their preparatory work on possible targeted measures in connection with the Ukrainian crisis, and to present proposals to Coreper on Thursday 24 July in order to take action - “including on access to capital markets, defence, dual-use goods and sensitive technologies, including in the energy sector”. The Council thus reiterated the earlier commitments of the European Council, and “remains ready to introduce without delay a package of further restrictive measures, if full and immediate cooperation (on a number of European demands) fails to materialise”. And the demands are numerous - linked (or not) to the Malaysian Airlines crash which left 298 people dead on Thursday 17 July.
In their conclusions, the ministers look forward to the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution of 21 July 2014 on the crash. The EU, which supports a “full, transparent and independent international investigation”, underlines that “all the relevant materials recovered on site should be made available to the international investigation immediately and without interference”. The EU ministers stated that those who are directly or indirectly responsible for the attack must be held responsible and brought to justice, and the ministers call on all states and parties to cooperate fully on this.
The ministers call on the separatist groups in the east of Ukraine to “ensure full, immediate, safe and secure access to the site (of the crash) and surrounding, including a viable security corridor, in order to proceed with victim identification as well as to recover the remains and possessions of those deceased in the downing and provide for swift, professional and dignified repatriation of the victims”. “The EU expects all those in the area to preserve the crash site intact, including by refraining from destroying, moving, or disturbing remains, wreckage, equipment, debris or personal belongings”, the Council conclusions state.
The Council calls on Russia to “actively use its influence” on the illegal armed groups for this purpose and to obtain full cooperation in the investigation - including unhindered access to the site of the attack for as long as needed for the investigation and the possible follow-up investigations. The ministers added that the OSCE special mission “must be allowed to play its full role in facilitating and safe-guarding the access”. The Council urges Moscow again to stop the growing flow of arms, equipment and fighters across the border, “in order to achieve rapid and tangible results in de-escalation” and to withdraw its additional troops from the border zone.
According to the Polish foreign affairs minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, a decision will be possible on these measures on 24 July at Coreper, if the ambassadors of the member states receive adequate instructions. If this is not the case, Sikorski states, the decision could be taken by the European Council either at a meeting or by written. He said that, as far as defence is concerned, the ministers had only discussed new contracts and not therefore the ongoing sale of the two Mistral warships by France to Russia.
The ministers also committed to accelerating the preparation of targeted measures towards new people and entities - as agreed by their leaders on 16 July. According to a European source, the list could be decided upon by the ambassadors at the Coreper meeting on 24 July.
Firmly condemning the continued illegal activities by armed militants “in Eastern Ukraine and elsewhere”, the ministers also announced that “further consideration will be given to the possible designation of these groups as terrorist organisations”.
Elsewhere, the Council established the unarmed civilian consultative mission of the EU for the reform of civil security in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). This mission will firstly focus on supporting the development of revised security strategies and on the swift implementation of reforms. It has an allocated budget of €2.68 million for its start-up phase, up until 30 November. The official launch of EUAM Ukraine activities will take place once its initial operational capacity has been reached. The mission's two year mandate will then begin. (CG with JK and EL)