Brussels, 17/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - Under the chapter of external relations of a political nature, Monday's General Affairs Council will have discussions on the following topics:
- Mozambique. Having discussed the situation (notably in the light of the visit by the Commissioner for Development, Nielson, to the disaster areas), the Council should: i) stress the need for close coordination of aid, both on the ground (Mozambique authorities in collaboration with UN Agencies) and in duration, as well as concerning the EU and its Member States; ii) envisage aid to rehabilitation that will still be provided, as well as the financial efforts that will be needed to strengthen the country's macroeconomic stability. EUROPE recalls that of the 100 million euro provided through the channels of UN Agencies under emergency humanitarian aid, 70 million had come from the EU and its Member States. In addition, several Member States and the EC have already pledged aid to rehabilitation and macro-financial assistance to the tune of 66.5 million euro, without counting debt relief to the tune of 156 million euro.
- Africa-Europe Summit. The Presidency will brief ministers on progress in preparing this summit, to be held in Cairo on 3 and 4 April and the Council could reach an ad referendum agreement on the wording of the Declaration and Action Plan to adopt. The last touches to these documents should come at a meeting of the Troikas of the EU and the Organisation of African Unity, currently taking place in Lisbon. The Council could meet in Cairo on the eve of the Summit for a last verification of the documents.
- Conflicts in Africa. It is at Belgium's request that this topic will be raised (among other things, in the light of this week's visit by Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel to the region of the Great Lakes). No decision - other than procedural - is expected, but Javier Solana will submit a working paper to ministers relating to how the EU could contribute towards stabilising the region.
- Western Balkans. Over lunch, the Secretary General/High Representative, Javier Solana and the Commission are expected to initiate in an-depth debate on the kind of relations the EU should have with this region, something that Heads of State of Government should then discuss at the Lisbon Summit.
In formal session, , ministers should also discuss the following issues:
- Kosovo: security, source of great concern, and preparations for the local elections will be raised;
- Serbia: the Commission has made operational proposals following the Council's decision in principle to lift the air embargo and tighten sanctions in the financial domain. It can almost be ruled out that formal decisions will be taken this time, there still being problems on two issues: - tax demanded by the Yugoslav authorities of European airline companies, on the one hand; - range of companies having to be affected by the new financial sanctions;
- Montenegro: the Council should confirm its will to continue providing assistance to this small Republic, despite the fact that classical macroeconomic assistance is not possible, this country not being a sovereign State. In addition, the EIB has difficulties in intervening due to loans that the FRY has not refunded. The Council could ask Member States to act bilaterally;
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: the Council should see how to respond to the request by the authorities of this country to open negotiations in view of concluding a Stabilisation and Association Agreement;
- Stability Pact: Special Coordinator Hombach will brief ministers on requirements in anticipation of the Donor Conference of 29 March.
- United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Whereas this Commission's work will begin in Geneva the same day, the Fifteen will try to define a common attitude on two issues to be dealt with there, which are: a) China: ministers will discuss progress in the country regarding human rights and try to agree on the attitude the EU should adopt over the draft resolution tabled by the United States; - b) death penalty: the Council could agree on a draft resolution to secure a moratorium in the matter.
- Russia. The Presidency will brief the Council on the outcome of the EU/Russia ministerial meeting of 2 March and the EU/United States/Russia meeting, still in Lisbon, on 3 March, meeting in which Javier Solana participated. On Belgium's initiative, the Council could also adopt conclusions confirming its deep concern at the situation that continues to prevail in Chechnya.
Over lunch, the Fifteen will also turn to: a) Burma, the United Kingdom and Denmark having suggested stepping up sanctions against that country in the sense that it continues to violate human rights; b) the situation in East Timor, at Ireland's request.
