Brussels, 07/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - Although the rotating presidencies of the Council of the European Union no longer have power in terms of foreign policy because these tasks are now entrusted to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Luxembourg - which took up the rotating presidency of the Council on 1 July - wants to support the work of Federica Mogherini.
“The Luxembourg Presidency will provide her with unfailing support”, Luxembourg says in the presentation of its presidency. Luxembourg is expected to contribute to the high representative's work of developing a new foreign policy strategy. It also wants to deepen its existing relations with the EU's closest partners “without putting into question (…) the uniform application of the EU acquis and the free movement of persons”.
Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the European Commission will present its review of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) in the autumn. Luxembourg is therefore expected to contribute to the work, with the goal of conclusions being adopted at the European Council in December 2015. Luxembourg will address the Ukrainian crisis. Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, advocates a more open approach towards Russia. While the Minsk agreements are “the key word”, the “Luxembourgish vision is that we cannot be limited to a policy of isolation towards Russia”, Asselborn told EUROPE. “The Luxembourg Presidency is not master of the game as far as this relationship is concerned, but we will really try to do everything so that, in Russia too, it can be seen that this confrontation between European and Russian positions cannot continue, and nor can the suffering in Donbas”, he added.
Asselborn would like the EU to be able to cooperate more with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova on the basis of the association agreements, and he would like the full potential of these agreements to be released. In his view, although these countries want to be European “economically, culturally and politically”, “it needs to be clear, and they know it too, that enlargement is not the solution”.
Luxembourg will also take part in the work on the enlargement policy, with a view to conclusions being adopted at the European Council in December. Luxembourg would like to open negotiations chapters with Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia “as soon as the conditions are met”. In Asselborn's view, “the door must not be closed to Turkey, especially after the Turkish elections. We must try to reinvigorate our relations.” Luxembourg will also encourage the continuation of reforms in Albania, progress towards the signature of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) with Kosovo, and the entry into force of the SAA with Bosnia-Herzegovina. In addition, the Council will return to the political situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by December.
Luxembourg will host a Europe-Asia (ASEM) ministerial dialogue meeting in November and the closing ceremony of the European Year of Development, also in December (see other article). (Camille-Cerise Gessant)