On Monday 19 June, in their conclusions, EU foreign ministers are expected to confirm their support for security sector reform in Iraq, several European sources have said. According to those sources, the EU is considering a mission in that country to help reform the security sector, once the town of Mossul has been recaptured from Islamic State/Da’esh.
“We must think of what we shall do in Iraq after Da’esh”, a European source said, adding that there is European consensus on the need to have more specific action regarding the security sector in order to increase Iraqi counter-terrorism capabilities, to give strategic advice, and to restore the police-justice system. Although, “on the principle, there is unanimity to move forward”, the form that such support will take – whether a CSDP mission or other instrument – and the limits of intervention have still to be decided.
“We are considering deployment of an EU mission for security sector reform, rather in advice and assistance”, another source said, while going on to specify that discussions were still at a “very early stage”.
While the Iraqi government had made a request for assistance from Europe for help in this field, the member states are still waiting for a strategic document from the European External Action Service on what could be done. And they are growing impatient.
Gulf countries. In addition to Iraq, ministers will hold a lunchtime discussion on the situation in the Gulf and tensions between Qatar, on one side, and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, on the other, and on the support to be given to Kuwaiti mediation. They will also discuss progress in implementation of the Global Strategy and will adopt conclusions on maritime security. The Global Strategy will also be discussed during the European Council on 22 and 23 June, i.e. nearly one year after it was first published.
Ministers will also take up the subject of cooperation with NATO, nearly one year after the signature of the EU-NATO joint statement. A report on the state of progress of the 42 priorities will be presented to the ministers.
Counter-terrorism. Foreign ministers will discuss counter-terrorism. They are expected to adopt conclusions, the first since February 2015, notably on strengthening cooperation with the Middle East, Turkey, North Africa, the Balkans, the Sahel region, and the Horn of Africa, but also at international level, especially with the EU’s key strategic partners.
Migration. Lastly, the external aspects of the migration challenge will be tackled. Although the eastern Mediterranean route is almost cut off, the number of migrants arriving from the central Mediterranean increased by 25% during the first half of 2017 compared with 2016, and implementation of the pacts with the African countries is lukewarm.
Russia. Without debate, ministers will give their agreement to a one-year extension of restrictive measures adopted in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Sebastopol (see EUROPE 11802).
They will also adopt conclusions on the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change, on a framework for a joint EU diplomatic response to the need for cyber-security against malicious cyber action, on civil society in the field of external relations, and on an EU strategy for Central Asia.
Africa. Africa will also be on the agenda. Without debate, the Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the EU-Africa partnership with a view to the November summit in Abidjan, conclusions on Mali and the Sahel region, and a decision for supporting the regionalisation of CSDP missions in the Sahel region (EUCAP Sahel Mali, EUCAP Sahel Niger, and EUTM Mali).
After the Council, foreign ministers will be joined by their counterparts from Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) in order to prepare for the Eastern Partnership summit to be held in Brussels on 24 November. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)