Brussels, 12/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 14 December, the EU28 foreign affairs ministers will meet to discuss the situation in Syria with United Nations emissary for Syria Staffan de Mistura. De Mistura is proposing ceasefire zones and a conflict freeze in order to be able to bring humanitarian aid. The first zone could be Alep.
The ministers will continue their discussions formally at the Council on 15 December. The debate, which will also focus on Iraq and the fight against Islamic State (IS), is part of the preparation for a regional strategy, which aims to identify a number of lines for action. This strategy is due to be presented officially at the Council on 19 January 2015. In addition to the question of how to strengthen diplomatic efforts to progress towards a transition, the Council will discuss humanitarian assistance and the issue of the refugees, foreign fighters, and action which could be taken with the countries of the region. Conclusions are expected to be adopted on Syria.
Over lunch, the ministers will discuss the situation in Libya and the support that the EU can bring to the efforts of Bernardino Leon, the special representative of the United Nations secretary general.
Adoption of sanctions in connection with Crimea? The Council will also hold more discussions on the situation in Ukraine, which is on the agenda for the European Council dinner on 18 December. If the texts are ready, the ministers could adopt new measures on investment, trade and services in Crimea due to the non-recognition of its annexation by Russia (see EUROPE 11198). On 12 December, the technical work was still ongoing.
The Foreign Affairs Council will be preceded by a Friends of Ukraine meeting, at the initiative of three ministers, and will be followed by the first Association Council with Ukraine, to be attended by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Mogherini will visit the country on 16-17 December.
The ministers are also expected to adopt conclusions on Bosnia-Herzegovina and to agree on a new EU strategy for the country, without the accession conditions being changed. “This is not a new approach but a re-sequencing of the approach” said a European source. The ministers are expected to ask Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn to engage with Bosnia-Herzegovina's leaders in order to reach an “irrevocable written commitment to undertake reforms”. Once such a written commitment is approved in Bosnia-Herzegovina, both by the parliament and civil society, the Council should decide on the stabilisation and association agreement entering into force.
Mogherini could also say a few words on the relaunch of the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, now that the Kosovar government is in place.
At the end of Sunday afternoon, the ministers will meet informally to continue their discussions on the working methods, after an initial meeting in November. They will also have a dinner with the commissioners dealing with foreign affairs and with Vice-President of the Commission for Budget and Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva to discuss the work programme and horizontal issues. (CG)