The Foreign Ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 7 December to discuss transatlantic relations and the EU’s strategic autonomy. They should also adopt the framework of sanctions for human rights violations around the world.
After a quick discussion in November (see EUROPE 12605/5), the heads of diplomacy will discuss the future of transatlantic relations in greater depth. This subject will also be discussed at the European Council on 10 and 11 December.
On the basis in particular of the joint communication presented by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union on Wednesday 2 December (see EUROPE 12614/4), Ministers could define priorities in terms of foreign, security and defence policy, including the United States’ reengagement with multilateralism, human rights and democracy. Europeans also want to convince the United States that a stronger Europe, particularly by strengthening its strategic autonomy, will be all the more capable of acting in transatlantic relations.
Although Ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on transatlantic relations, work on this proposed relationship, which is destined for Washington, will continue in January.
Over lunch, Ministers will discuss the EU’s strategic autonomy, in particular how to strengthen and operationalise it. “Apart from nuances on the use of the concept and how to assert it more or less firmly to the outside world, for the rest, there is a consensus on the need to strengthen our resilience and our capacity to act”, explained a European source.
The EU Council should discuss the main foreign and security policy issues to be addressed by the EU in the coming years, and the political, financial and security policy initiatives, instruments and capabilities that should be revised to strengthen the EU’s global role and capacity for action.
One of the objectives is to identify concrete policy initiatives and projects that could contribute to strengthening the EU’s foreign and security dimension and its impact at the global level.
Quick Discussions on Turkey, Venezuela, Georgia and Hong Kong
Beyond these discussions, the EU Council should, more rapidly, have a preliminary discussion on Turkey and on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent weeks, ahead of the European Council on 10 and 11 December (see other news).
In the aftermath of the ‘legislative elections’ in Venezuela, Ministers could make an initial assessment of the situation and react to it if necessary. One European source, however, said that while a reaction could be expected from the EU, it would be minimal, due to the short time between the vote and the meeting. One senior official indicated that a declaration could be adopted.
The EU Council is also expected to take stock of the situation in Georgia as EU-facilitated discussions are taking place between the majority party and the opposition following the disputed parliamentary elections in the country.
The High Representative is expected to give an oral report to Ministers on the implementation of the Security Law in Hong Kong, where the situation continues to deteriorate. At the end of July, Member States announced that they would review “by the end of the year” the implementation of the National Security Act, its effects on rights and freedoms and on the business environment in Hong Kong, and the impact of the EU package (see EUROPE 12538/10).
Sanctions for human rights violations
Furthermore, the Council of the EU should address the human rights situation in the world, as 10 December is International Human Rights Day. They could adopt a framework of EU sanctions for human rights violations around the world (see EUROPE 12587/18). This framework, which has been awaited for a year (see EUROPE 12386/5), is not expected to contain any names for the time being. According to one source, any person, State or non-State entity found responsible for human rights violations, such as genocide or torture, could be sanctioned.
Finally, Ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on Lebanon, in which they will recall the importance of the formation of a government and of putting in place the necessary reforms (see EUROPE 12588/28). The conclusions should also make a reference to the international conference of 2 December, which was intended as a follow-up to the conference of 9 August, held following the explosion in the port of Beirut (see EUROPE 12543/2). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)