Brussels, 15/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - At their Council on Monday 18 January, the European foreign affairs ministers are expected to call for the swift implementation of the agreement concluded in December and for the new government to be set up in Libya. The deadline for the constitution of the government is Sunday 17 January.
The ministers' conclusions, adopted without debate, are expected to be “an invitation to the Libyan parties to implement the agreement swiftly, to set up the national unity government, and to make progress on the elements that could compete with security arrangements”, a diplomatic source stated, adding that “these arrangements were preliminary to the security arrangements in Libya: the requests must come from the authorities and for this, the authorities must be organised”. “There is prioritising work to be done on the Libyans' side and in response, there is the planning work by the EU”, the source added, saying that this work must be done in liaison with the UN, Libyans and Italians who are working on a possible military mission. The EU foreign minsters are also expected to reiterate their support for the special envoy, Martin Kobler, whom they met at the Foreign Affairs Council in December.
Iraq, Syria and Ukraine on Council agenda. The ministers are also expected to discuss Syria and recent developments in the region. Their discussion should enable a follow up to the meetings in Vienna and New York, especially the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution. Intra-Syrian discussions are planned for 25 January. The EU member state representatives and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini met the General Coordinator of the High Negotiations Committee for the Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, Riad Hijab, on Thursday 14 January. The Council is expected to talk about how the EU could further support the efforts of UN Special Representative Staffan de Mistura. The minsters could also talk about the conference being organised in London on 4 February - the aim of which is to identify means for helping Syria's neighbouring countries in hosting refugees and keeping them there. The Commission is expected to present a package of measures on this - not only financial measures, but also trade. It is also possible that the ministers speak about the worsening of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which could have an effect on the negotiations on Syria, even if the two parties have confirmed their participation in the negotiations. According to a diplomatic source, Mogherini could be tasked by the Council with holding discussions with the two parties. The worsening of the humanitarian situation in Syria could also be addressed.
In addition, the EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Iraq - a country on which the Council adopted conclusions in December (see EUROPE 11454). Discussion could thus be resumed on the points of the conclusions, such as the EU's political support to the Iraqi government for economic, social and security reforms, the process of reconciliation in the country, or European assistance in the ISIL-free zones, so as to help the recovery of basic services for the population.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh will meet his European counterparts for lunch to discuss the foreign policy challenges in the Middle East region - such as Syria, the Middle East peace process or the Iran-Saudi Arabia tension.
In the afternoon, the ministers will discuss the reform process in Ukraine and support for this country from the EU and its member states. A diplomatic source said that while Ukraine “has been through an unprecedented wave of reforms since 2014”, at the same time “a number of difficulties remain” - some reforms have not been adopted, and others are incomplete or are blocked (such as the measures to fight against corruption). The EU foreign ministers' discussion is not, on the other hand, expected to focus on the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
The Council will also adopt, without debate, the conclusions on the Middle East peace process. At the request of Spain, Mogherini is expected to address the situation in Venezuela in her introductory points. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)