Brussels, 09/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 12 October, the European foreign affairs ministers will discuss the situation in Syria and the external aspects of the migration crisis.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has also decided to put Libya on the Council's agenda, following the UN proposal for a national unity government (see other article).
The morning will be dedicated to the situation in Syria, at a time when the parameters have been upset by the Russian air strikes in Syria. The ministers could thus discuss this Russian military intervention. A European diplomatic source said that the 28 EU member states were concerned at the fact that the Russian air strikes were not hitting the Islamic State (ISIL) targets. However, while some countries would like at least to respond, or indeed condemn the strikes, in the conclusions that are expected to be adopted, others are reportedly more reluctant and argue in favour of caution. Another area of disagreement that is expected to be addressed is the future of Bashar al-Assad. The member states agree on one point and the Council has moreover expressed this on several occasions - “President Assad has no place in the future of Syria”. “There is no disagreement from Europeans on the final objective but there can be different ideas on the sequence of events” a member state source said. “Should the transition phase assume that Bashar al-Assad has gone, or should he go at the end of this phase?” - these are questions, for example, that might form one of the points of divergence between the member states, according to this source on Friday 9 October. The wording of the Council conclusions about Assad was therefore still under discussion on Friday.
The Council comes a few days after the United Nations General Assembly, where a number of EU member states and Mogherini had discussions about the Syrian issue with UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura. Nevertheless, the EU foreign ministers will discuss the European support that can be brought to de Mistura to help him be successful in his efforts for a political solution. Mogherini would also like the discussion to focus on the EU's involvement in the process of searching for a political solution, the presence of the EU in a possible contact group, and the role that European diplomacy could play in supporting de Mistura with regional actors.
Migration. Over lunch, the ministers will discuss the external aspects of the migration crisis. They could speak about the high level conference of 8 October on the Balkans Route (see other article) as well as the preparation for the summit on migration with the African countries (Valletta, 11-12 November).
The conclusions on the Althea mission in Bosnia are expected to be adopted without debate. Mogherini could also say a few words on Belarus, where the presidential elections will be held on 5 November, and on the situation in the Middle East, which will be the subject of a debate during the November Council.
Africa. The Council will adopt, without debate, the conclusions on the situation in South Sudan. It is expected to hail the peace agreement signed on 26 August, call for its full implementation, which is incompatible with the announced creation of new states in the country (see EUROPE 11404), and express its concerns at the alarming situation on the ground. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Aminata Niang)