EU Foreign Ministers meet in Brussels on Monday 19 November for their monthly Council meeting.
Yemen. Ministers will discuss, over lunch, the situation in Yemen, as fighting continues in Hodeida, the main port of entry for goods into the country. 22 of the 25 million Yemenis are currently facing food insecurity. The EU has already provided more than €234 million in humanitarian aid to the country since 2015. According to one source, the EU will announce an additional €50 million to help deliver food aid.
In addition to the humanitarian aspect, the discussion should focus on the EU's current efforts, including political assistance and ways to strengthen the process led by the United Nations and its Special Envoy, Martin Griffith. The coalition's action, led by a Saudi Arabia weakened by the Kashoggi affair, is increasingly being criticised.
"We must have the capacity to support Mr. Griffith's action plan and work with him to strengthen it", explained a European source. For example, "when he talks about a possible reopening of Sana'a airport, the objective is to see what we can do to facilitate the measure with financial, humanitarian, political, diplomatic means...”, she added, specifying that it was useful to act by concrete means. And while the shadow of the issue of arms sales by European countries will hang over the heads of ministers, no discussion is ongoing for an embargo, despite repeated requests from the European Parliament.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ministers will discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina again, after adopting conclusions on the country in October (see EUROPE 12117). The discussion, to be held after the elections on 7 October past, is expected to include the reform process of the country that has applied for EU membership. Following the elections that saw the victory of the nationalists, the country must set up 13 national and local governments. At the October European Council, the Croatian Prime Minister highlighted the situation of Croats in the country (see EUROPE 12120).
Ukraine. For the first time since March, the Council will discuss the situation in Ukraine and recent developments, ranging from the elections in the "Republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk (see EUROPE 12135), to the security situation in Ukraine and Russia's militarisation of the Sea of Azov (see EUROPE 12124). Ministers could also discuss the ongoing reform process and the need to implement the decisions taken, in particular in terms of the fight against corruption and privatisation, as well as the EU's support for this process.
Central Asia. Finally, the Council will return to Central Asia, ahead of the 14th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting to be held on 23 November in Brussels and at a time when a new strategy for the region will be presented early next year. Ministers should focus on assessing changes in the region, including internal reform processes and the new dynamics of regional cooperation, and explore opportunities to strengthen EU engagement in Central Asia, while Russia and China have views on the region.
Soon, the heads of diplomacy could discuss the Palermo conference on Libya (see EUROPE 12137), the situation in Gaza and Iran, both in terms of the nuclear agreement and the country's attempted attacks in France and Denmark.
Without discussion, the ministers will adopt many conclusions, which will focus on Pakistan following the July 2018 general elections and Afghanistan, while a ministerial conference on the country will be held on 27 and 28 November in Geneva. Conclusions are also expected on Ethiopia and Sudan in which the EU should reiterate its readiness to engage in an evolving dialogue and cooperation with Khartoum, depending on the country's commitments in its internal reforms, for peace and to play a constructive role in the region. Finally, water diplomacy will also be the subject of conclusions.
Joint meeting of foreign and defence ministers
On Monday afternoon, the Foreign Ministers will be joined by their Defence counterparts for a joint discussion on European security and defence cooperation. An opportunity to take stock of progress for this last Jumbo Council under the Juncker Commission. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on security and defence.
PESCO. In particular, the ministers will discuss permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and are expected to adopt 17 new projects, eight months after the adoption of the first 17 (see EUROPE 11975). 33 projects had been proposed for this second selection round. These projects include 'basic sharing', a European radio navigation system, missiles and Tiger helicopters, according to various sources.
Contrary to what they had initially planned in June, the ministers will not adopt the rules governing the participation of third countries in the PESCO project (see EUROPE 12115). According to a European source, the timing is not conducive to such a decision, with the announcement of a withdrawal agreement by the United Kingdom. “When the Brexit will be away, it will be better”, they explained. In addition, Member States still do not agree on the conditions for participation. According to this source, the decision could be made “early next year". They recalled that the objective of the PSC was to establish cooperation between the 25 Member States participating in the cooperation, and not with third countries. A diplomat said that a decision could be taken as early as the end of this year.
Following an agreement at ambassadorial level, the Council is also expected to adopt its position on the Commission's proposal to establish a European Defence Fund, in order to allow inter-institutional negotiations to begin. However, the financial aspects of the fund will depend on the overall agreement on the next multiannual financial framework 2021-2027.
The coordinated annual review on defence (CARD), military mobility and the proposal of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to create a European Peace Facility will also be on the table.
CSDP. Ministers should establish a civil pact for the CSDP, the objective of which is to strengthen the EU's capacity to deploy civilian crisis management missions, strengthen the police, rule of law and civilian administration in fragile and conflict situations. According to sources, the ambition is to launch a new mission of up to 200 people in 30 days, with all the necessary equipment.
The Council could also adopt conclusions on the strengthening and development of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) which provides command of the three non-executive CSDP military missions (see EUROPE 11739). This should include an increase in staff from the current 25 to 60.
Meeting on Tuesday in the Defence Council, the Defence Ministers will examine the missions and operations of the Common Security and Defence Policy. The EU currently has 16 missions: 6 military and 10 civilian. In particular, they should review the situation of the Eunavfor Med Sophia mission, whose strategic review is still ongoing and the mandate runs until the end of the year. The landing issue is still not resolved. The Council could also discuss ongoing operations in the Sahel, and continued support for the G5 Sahel force, according to one source.
Together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ministers will discuss the latest developments in EU-Alliance cooperation and their 74 joint actions. The debate could include the fight against hybrid threats (see other news) and military mobility.
European Defence Agency. In addition, before the Council of Defence Ministers on Tuesday, the ministers will meet in the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency (EDA). In particular, they should approve the Agency's general budget for 2019. This should be €35 million, an increase of 5%, to take into account the Agency's additional tasks, in particular those related to permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and the annual coordinated annual review of defence (CARD).
Emphasis will also be placed on the CARD, which is intended to help Member States implement essential military capabilities and benefit from economies of scale and for which the Agency has conducted a test. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)