Brussels, 12/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European foreign affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 15 February. Their discussions will focus primarily on the Syrian crisis, relations between the EU and Belarus, Moldova and climate diplomacy post-COP 21.
Libya. The Council will start at around 9.30 a.m. with an introduction by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, on the situation in Libya, although no discussion between the ministers is scheduled. However, the ministers are expected to adopt the mandate change of the border assistance mission EUBAM and its extension for six months, until 21 August 2016. According to a European source, this extension of the mission's mandate aims to make use of the structure of the mission to reinforce the European planning capacity, in terms of the security sector. This source explained that the local parties were not in favour of international presence on the ground, and that European aid should therefore focus more on training and advice than direct involvement in maintaining security. “We can train the police, the border guards and the coastguards, make it a rule of law and justice support mission”, she clarified.
Syria. The heads of diplomacy will discuss the political, security and humanitarian situation in Syria, in the light of the meeting of the international support group for Syria in Munich on 11 February (see other article) and the conference of the donors for Syria and the region (London, 4 February). The Council may discuss what it can do to support the political process, even though “the EU's role in this process is limited”, a European source stressed.
The UK Minister will report back on results of the London conference, where the EU announced more than €2.4 billion from its budget for 2016 and 2017 of the €3.3 billion pledged to help the vulnerable populations in Syria, refugees in the neighbouring countries and their host communities. They will discuss the “packages” under preparation for Jordan and Lebanon, which include trade measures aiming to promote products from refugee-hosting areas in the two countries (see EUROPE 11484).
Lunch with their Lebanese opposite number, Gebran Gerge Bassil, will allow the ministers to continue their discussion of the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon. “This will give the Lebanese minister the opportunity to tell us what he expects of us”, a senior official said on Friday. The ministers may also discuss the political situation in the country, which is still without a president.
Climate. The ministers will hold a short exchange of views at the start of the session on the results of COP 21 and its implications for climate diplomacy. The conclusions they will adopt will allow them to welcome the Paris Agreement and to approve the 2016 action plan for climate diplomacy, which is based around three major axes: continuing to make climate change a strategic priority in all diplomatic dialogue and all external policy instruments; supporting the implementation of all the elements of the Paris Agreement; better tackling the links between climate change, natural resources, prosperity, stability and migration at international level (see EUROPE 11488).
Belarus. The ministers will discuss relations between the EU and Belarus and may decide to lift the sanctions against 170 individuals and three entities (see other article).
Moldova. The ministers are expected to conclude their work with a discussion on the situation in Moldova. “Moldova, which has long been an exemplary country of the Eastern partnership, is raising a great deal of concern, as it remains fragile and unstable”, a diplomatic source explained. In their conclusions, the ministers are expected to call upon the country, which has a new government, to make the necessary reforms, in such matters as the fight against corruption, the legal system and the banking system. The ministers may also discuss the conditions for European financial support, with its macro-financial aid subject to an agreement between Chisinau and the International Monetary Fund.
Burundi. On the sidelines of the session, the Council will adopt without debate conclusions which will condemn the use of force, extra-judicial murder and hate speech, and will call for inclusive political dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Somalia. In conclusions adopted without debate, the Council will reiterate its commitment to supporting the development and stability of the country and will stress the importance of renewing beyond 2016 the “Compact for Somalia”, which was launched at the “New Deal for Somalia” international conference (Brussels, September 2013), to establish the framework for the country's reconstruction (see EUROPE 10923).
It is anticipated that the Council will be preceded by the official submission, by Bosnia & Herzegovina, of its accession application to the Dutch Presidency of the Council, in the presence of Mogherini and the Commissioner for Accession Negotiations, Johannes Hahn. The Council will be followed by a meeting of the EU-Kyrgyzstan Corporation Council. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Aminata Niang)