At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday 16 October, the EU's foreign ministers will discuss the decision of US President Donald Trump on Friday 13 October not to certify the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme.
In his address, Trump said that Iran is a dictatorial, fanatical and radical regime that does not respect the spirit of the agreement. He asked the US Congress to respond to the many deep weaknesses of the agreement, and added that if it was not possible to find a solution by working with Congress and US allies he would put an end to the agreement. Criticising the role of Iran in the Middle East, its support for terrorists and its ballistic missile programme, Trump also announced new sanctions against Tehran that are not linked to the nuclear programme.
Immediately after the US announcement, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who had just spoken to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, stated that the agreement was international and not a bilateral one. No country alone in the world can put an end to the agreement. It is not in the hands of one president alone from one country alone in the world. The US president has many powers, but not this one, Mogherini said. The agreement is being, and will continue to be, applied, she added, stating that the EU was committed to all the parties continuing to uphold the agreement. Mogherini added that she did not see any possibility for this agreement to be renegotiated. Similarly, she certified that Iran had not infringed the nuclear programme agreement, stating that the International Atomic Energy Agency had certified Tehran's full respect of the agreement, thus contradicting Trump who a few minutes earlier had spoken of multiple infringements of the agreement.
Elsewhere, in a joint statement, Britain's prime minister, Germany's chancellor and France's president, in other words the leaders of the three European countries that took part in the negotiations for the agreement, stated that they remained committed to the full implementation of the agreement by all parties. They also said they were ready to take other appropriate measures concerning Iran's ballistic missile programme and the regional activities of this country, in close cooperation with the USA and all the partners concerned.
Further sanctions against North Korea
On Friday 13 October, several European sources announced that the Council is expected to adopt further sanctions against North Korea. During their informal Council on 7 September the ministers decided to strengthen their autonomous sanctions (see EUROPE 11857 and 11867).
According to a senior European official, the sanctions will focus on a total ban on European investment in the country, and a ban on selling refined and non-refined petroleum products to Pyongyang. The EU will also ban its member states from renewing work permits for North Korean citizens on EU member state soil – at a time when the United Nations Security Council has already banned giving new visas (see EUROPE 11880). The amount for the transfer of personal funds to North Korea from the EU member states will also be reviewed downwards. Three people and six entities will be added to the 38 people and four entities currently subject to an assets freeze and visa ban due to their connection with North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
In addition to these sanctions, Europeans will work with third countries so that the UN sanctions that have already been adopted can be implemented effectively.
Threat of sanctions against Burma/Myanmar
The ministers are also expected to state, in conclusions they will adopt without discussion, that the Council could consider setting up further measures if the situation does not improve (see EUROPE 11876) – while being ready to respond to any positive developments. According to a European source, the sanctions could be targeted measures. The EU still applies an embargo on weapons and equipment likely to be used for the purposes of internal repression. Meanwhile, "due to the disproportionate use of force by the security forces", according to the Council, the EU and its member states will suspend their invitations to senior military leaders in the armed forces of Burma and will move ahead to the re-assessment of any form of concrete cooperation on defence.
Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan also on agenda
Over lunch, the ministers will focus on the situation in Turkey – a subject that will again be discussed at the European Council on 19-20 October. Several European sources have said that the discussion will not apparently focus on the issue of Turkey's EU accession, but on the developments in the country and on cooperation with this "important regional partner". The General Affairs Council of 17 October could, while preparing the conclusions of the European Council, discuss the issues of Turkey's EU accession.
The EU foreign affairs ministers will furthermore discuss the EU's human rights policy, and the EU's special representative for human rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, will also attend the discussion. According to several sources, it is increasingly difficult to have a common position on this subject between the member states. "There are more and more internal blockages that block us externally", a European source summed up.
The Council will also launch, without discussion, the new CSDP civil mission in Iraq, adopting an operational plan (see EUROPE 11831). This operation is expected to be deployed in Baghdad in the autumn, and the EU will use it to bring its support to the reform of the Iraqi security sector. According to a European source, this mission will comprise 36 members.
Again, without discussion, the ministers will adopt conclusions on Bosnia-Herzegovina, and are expected to announce that the EU is ready to extend the mandate for its military operation in the country, EUFOR Althea, if the United Nations Security Council prolongs its executive mandate that authorises the use of force, if necessary.
The Council will also adopt conclusions hailing the joint communication on an EU strategy for Afghanistan (see EUROPE 11835), which focuses on four axes: the promotion of peace, stability and security in the region, strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights, fostering good governance, supporting economic and human development, and the challenges linked to migration.
As an introductory remark, Mogherini is expected to speak about the situation in Venezuela. Regional elections are planned in this country on Sunday 15 October. According to two sources, the ambassadors of the Political and Security Committee gave their agreement on 11 October for work to begin on targeted sanctions. The objective is the resumption of dialogue between the regime and the opposition, one of these sources stated. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)