Brussels, 14/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 18 September, the General Affairs Council will be holding its first session after the summer break. It will devote the morning to the Union's external relations and, in the afternoon, it will discuss several horizontal matters. The ministers will also meet at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to continue discussion on institutional reform (see other article on page 3).
The agenda mainly includes: - a debate on the situation in the Western Balkans, with the preparation of the Summit scheduled for end November in Croatia, the possibility of adopting asymmetrical trade measures in favour of countries of the area and an exchange of views on the situation in Serbia (problems specific to Kosovo will be discussed in October); - the Middle East Peace Process; - relations with the Mediterranean (ministers will discuss revision of the Meda regulation and will examine the Commission communication on rekindling the Barcelona process); - follow-up to the debate on the Union's external aid. On this last point, the aim is to crystallise the direction of the informal debate that Foreign Ministers held in Evian at the beginning of the month (see EUROPE of 4/5 September, p.3) on the basis of a working plan (procedure and timetable) prepared by the Presidency in cooperation with the Commission. The financial aspects are at the centre of this exercise, along the lines of Commissioner Patten's document aimed at improving the effectiveness of Union action in these matters.
It is possible that the item on "bananas" will also be included on the agenda, but it will not be discussed in detail until the October session, when the Commission will report on its discussions with the administrations of Member States and with exporting third countries about the possibility of introducing, for banana imports, the "first come first served" system. Regarding enlargement negotiations, Mr Verheugen could report to Council but no detailed discussion will be held before the Commission's reports are presented on the situation of the applicant countries country by country, awaited for November. The ministers could also be informed of the state of progress of work concerning the status of MEPs (Presidency contacts with the European Parliament).
On Tuesday morning, the EEA Council (European Economic Area) will meet, together with the EU/Czech Republic Association Council and the EU/Hungary Association Council.