Brussels, 06/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 February, EU foreign ministers are expected to adopt without debate an updated list of people and bodies against whom and which sanctions are issued in connection with the situation in the east of Ukraine following the agreement reached by member states' sherpas (see EUROPE 11247) and in line with the conclusions document for the special European Summit on 29 January (see EUROPE 11242).
Nineteen individuals, five of them from Russia, will be subject to a freezing of their assets and a travel ban in the EU. Nine bodies, including one Russian body, will have their assets frozen in the EU.
Ukraine itself is not planned to be discussed by the ministers, although the French and German foreign ministers may brief their colleagues on the diplomatic move being taken by the French president, François Hollande, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. A European source said that at this stage, Ukraine is not formally on the agenda, but the ministers may discuss it depending on the outcome of the current diplomatic moves. If anything significant happens over the weekend, then Africa could be removed from the afternoon too and Ukraine slotted in it its place, explained the source, adding that Merkel and Hollande might decide they'd rather discuss the issue at the European Summit.
Libya, Yemen and terrorism
The ministers will discuss the situation in Libya and will publish a conclusions document. The talks were initially planned for the Council meeting in January, but were postponed because of the long debate about Russia. The ministers are expected to consider how the EU could help restore trust amongst the parties to boost the halting negotiations currently under way in Geneva. The Council is expected to again confirm its backing for the United Nations Special Representative, Bernardino Leon, particularly vis-à-vis the option of issuing sanctions against people who come to disturb the talks, explained a European source.
Upon request from Germany, the ministers will discuss the situation in the Yemen, where the president and prime minister have resigned. The Council's conclusions document will condemn violence and call for a resumption of talks between all parties, institutional reform and for the country to remain in one piece.
The High Representative will brief the ministers about the strategy for tackling the crises in Syria and Iraq and the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS or Daesh, see other article).
Over lunch, the foreign ministers will resume the talks they began on 19 January on how the EU deals with terrorism and are expected to stress a number of approaches to action abroad in a relatively detailed conclusions document, explained a number of national delegations on Friday 6 February. In what is beginning to look more like an action plan than a normal conclusions document, the Council will list a number of guidelines for partnerships with key countries in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East and the Sahel. The recommended action will include aid for the construction of solid intelligence services, fighting against radicalisation and cooperation with non-EU countries where counter-terror action needs to be boosted.
The Foreign Affairs Council will be preceded by an Association Council between the EU and the Lebanon, attended by foreign minister Gebran Bassil. (CG, SP, MP)