Brussels, 13/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Monday 16 March, the foreign affairs ministers of the 28 EU member states will discuss the EU's ways of supporting a peaceful solution to the crisis in Libya, should there be a positive outcome in the ongoing inter-Libyan talks in Rabat which are taking place under the aegis of UN special representative Bernardino Leon. “As soon as there is progress, we will have to be ready to support it. It may be that the Council asks us to plan a possible European mission”, said a high-level EU official on Friday, wary of making any forecasts. The two issues to be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council, in preparation for the European Council on 19-20 March, are Libya and the preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit.
Monday's Foreign Affairs Council, which will be chaired by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, will devote plenty of time to Africa. It will start with a strategic debate on peace, security and prosperity in Africa. “We don't only want to talk about crises, but also about prosperity and growth, and the opportunities to be seized”, said a European source on Friday. The foreign policy contribution to the challenges of migration, following on from the JHA Council, will be debated over lunch with European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos.
An Association Council with Moldova will be held on the sidelines of the session at the end of Monday afternoon, and an Association Council with Tunisia will be held on Tuesday 17 March.
Libya. The ministers will continue the discussions they started during their informal meeting in Riga in early March (see EUROPE 11270) regarding the concrete measures the EU and its member states could take to push the national reconciliation process forward and contribute to a possible ceasefire being maintained and the formation of a Libyan government of national unity. These measures include the possibility of launching an EU mission or military operation as part of its common security and defence policy (CSDP). The ministers will thus be invited to give their opinion on the different options they envisage - such as an observation mission, strengthening the European naval presence (including in Libya's territorial waters) or deploying a military force on the ground. The ministers are expected to adopt conclusions, but there is currently no possibility of seeing which of these options might be used as the negotiations between the Libyan political parties are still ongoing. The European External Action Service (EEAS) will instead be tasked by the Council with continuing the preparatory work, keeping the different options in mind that the ministers retain during this meeting as practicable.
Eastern Partnership. In the wake of their recent informal meeting in Riga (EUROPE 11270), the ministers will continue preparing the fourth Eastern Partnership summit (in Riga on 21-22 May), as well as the meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU28 and partner countries (in Luxembourg on 20 April) that is due to make preparations for this summit. This discussion will also feed the debate that the heads of state and government will hold on this when they meet in Brussels on 19-20 March. It is only at the end of this European Council meeting that the negotiations will begin on the draft statement of the Riga summit. The key issue is that of knowing whether the EU wants 'more' or 'less' than at the previous summit in November 2013 (EUROPE 10974) - in other words, how to manage the aspirations of the EU Eastern neighbourhood countries, said a European diplomat.
Migration. The Council will hold an exploratory exchange of views on the means for contributing to a better management of migratory flows through increased cooperation with third countries, and the means for strengthening the protection of refugees. This exchange will be guided by a joint letter to the ministers from Mogherini and Avramopoulos (see other article).
Africa. The ministers will hold the strategic debate on Africa that was originally planned for February (before the African Union summit), but which had to be postponed due to a lack of time. The debate will be steered by a document drawn up by the EEAS and will centre around three areas - security and stability; prosperity and economic development; and the partnership with African regional organisations. With the increase in terrorism from Boko Haram and Islamic State, there have been many developments since the fourth EU-Africa summit which took place in Brussels in April 2014 (see EUROPE 11053).
The European Union has two priorities - promoting peace and security through the prevention of conflicts and terrorism; and accelerating growth and sustainable development, as part of the partnership of equals and the joint EU-Africa strategy that has linked the two continents since 2007.
Central African Republic (CAR). The Council is expected to take the decision to launch the new European strategic advisory mission for reform of the CAR armed forces (EUMAM RCA). The mandate for the current military operation (EUFOR RCA) comes to an end on Sunday 15 March. The Council's initial decision has undergone a slight adjustment due to a lack of willingness from the member states (except France) to contribute to the mission. Indeed it was planned to launch the mission once a minimum of 40 military advisers were brought together - which has still not happened. The mission will therefore begin its activities with a smaller staff (mainly French) and with the support of the French SANGARIS force present on the ground.
Mali. The Council will adopt conclusions that are expected strongly to condemn the recent terrorist attack in Bamako (see EUROPE 11270). It will call for all the parties (including the Azawad movement) swiftly to conclude and sign the Algiers agreement that was initialled on 1 March.
Gulf of Guinea. The Council will adopt the EU 2015-2020 action plan for the Gulf of Guinea without debate. The action plan was designed to support the efforts of the countries of the region to fight piracy, illegal fishing and organised crime, and to assure maritime security by helping these countries strengthen their institutions and their infrastructure.
Ebola. The Council will adopt conclusions that will approve the final statement of the African co-presidents of the international conference on Ebola in Brussels on 3 March, which requested increased support from the international community for the countries of West Africa to be able to eradicate the Ebola virus and relaunch their economies (EUROPE 11266 and 11265). The Council is expected to invite the EU and its member states to disburse the money pledged, and it is expected to ask the EEAS to explore the means for strengthening the health systems of the countries affected so as to avoid a similar tragedy being repeated in the future.
Burundi. In its conclusions, the Council is expected to encourage the holding of peaceful and inclusive presidential elections, which the EU is ready to support by sending an electoral observation mission in April.
Bosnia-Herzegovina. The ministers are expected to decide to pave the way towards enforcement of the association agreement with Bosnia-Herzegovina, after the country's authorities recently committed to undertake reforms as part of the EU accession process (see EUROPE 11261). Once this decision has been adopted, enforcement of the agreement is expected to take place within two months.
EU-Moldova Association Council. The first of its kind, this Association Council will review the implementation of the agreement that has been in force since 1 September 2014.
EU-Tunisia Association Council. This Council will make an assessment after the first phase of institutional transition. The EU will reiterate its request for negotiations to resume - particularly on trade. (Aminata Niang and Jan Kordys)