Brussels, 21/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The last meeting of the General Affairs Council under the Swedish Presidency will take place next Monday and Tuesday in Luxembourg, with a programme marked by the latest developments in the Balkans, the Middle East and in Africa. Below is a brief overview of the agenda for this session, which will be accompanied by the signing by the Council President, Anna Lindh, Commissioner Patten and the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Maher El Sayed, of the Euro-Mediterranean EU/Egypt Association Agreement (see other article, p.15).
- Balkans: The Council will examine the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the Swedish Presidency hoped, on Thursday, that the Prime Minister Lubjco Georgievski, invited by the Council, takes part in this meeting. The EU High Representative for foreign policy, Javier Solana was yesterday in Skopje in order to contribute towards building the dialogue between the political parties, while the latest news from the Macedonia capital spoke of a break in the negotiations over the plan presented by the President Boris Trajkovski. Another visit by Mr Solana is foreseen over the weekend just before the meeting by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, which will also discuss, during lunch, the nomination of an EU representative in Skopje, as had been called for by the Gothenburg European Council. The only candidate in line remains, for the time being, the former French Defence Minister, Francois Leotard, but his possible nomination, which immediately received the support of Germany, does not seem highly appreciated by Mr Solana who, until now, has direct control over this dossier with the support of the British representative on the ground. This nomination also confronts, according to the European Commission and the Council Secretariat General, a financial problem and it has been proposed that the Member State, from where the Representative in Skopje originates, ensures at least his remuneration. Without permanently rejecting such a possibility, France for the time being underlined that it would be preferable to find a Community financing. The Council should adopt conclusions cover both the FYROM and: - the donors conference for Yugoslavia (FRY), which will take place in Brussels on 29 June; - the legislative process underway in FRY on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; - the first round of elections in Albania; - the prorogation by one year of Mr Petritsch mandate in Bosnia-Herzegovina; - the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
- Middle East: During lunch the Ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, notably in the light of the report to be made by Mr Solana on his visit to the region, this Friday 22 June and the meetings he will have with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and the President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat.
- Zimbabwe: The Council should express its concern in the face of the situation which has not changed in this country and indicate that it will take the appropriate measures if substantial progress is not achieved within two months. EUROPE believes that the United Kingdom would have hoped for greater force, but several Member States continue to think that there is a chance to move the regime of Robert Mugabe towards the path of dialogue.
- West Africa: The Council should adopt conclusions on the political and humanitarian crisis in the sub-region of the countries forming the Union of the Mano river (Liberia, Sierra Leon and Guinea). These conclusions should (1) reaffirm the need for dialogue, (2) bring the EU's support for the efforts of ECOWAS to restore peace and stability and (3) underline the readiness of the Council to support the sending of a possible intervention at the border between Guinea and Liberia, as long as it gains the assent and cooperation of the governments concerned.
- Follow-up of Gothenburg European Council: Presidency will present Ministers list of issues tackled by Summit, which require specific follow-up measures. The Council should also return to the violence that marked the European Council. The Ministers will notably be able to discuss a proposal aiming to gather the Council of Ministers for Home Affairs to examine how to enhance police cooperation during the European Council and any other international demonstration whatever the political or sporting nature.
- Day trips between Turkey and Greece: On request from Greece, the Council should once more raise the problem of visas for Turkish tourists, who want to spend the day in the Greek islands.
The Council must also adopt without debate:
1) Conclusions concerning transparency. In this text, the Council simply notes the decision by Secretary General Javier Solana to which a code of good administrative conduct is annexed, to be applied to all officials of the institution. Without being as comprehensive as the European Ombudsman would have liked, the code nonetheless meets Mr Söderman's main requests. It mainly invites officials to respond in a courteous manner and without discrimination to all requests made to them or to explain why it is impossible for them to give a response.
2) Conclusions on the role of the EU in promoting human rights and democracy in third countries. The Council gives its support to the strategy described by the Commission in its communication dated 8 May (see EUROPE of 9 May, p.5).
3) A declaration on the International Day for Torture Victims. The Council stresses the prime importance that it attaches to the prevention and eradication of torture.
4) The EU's position with a view to the next negotiating session on the EU-Japan action plan.
5) Conclusions concerning discussions with Switzerland on various issues.
The Council will also note the absence of any notable developments in Cuba (9th assessment) and will confirm its common position concerning this country. During their working lunch, Ministers will also discuss with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, on the forthcoming conference against racism.
A meeting of the European Economic Area Council is scheduled for Monday afternoon. Several other meetings will be held on Tuesday: - Association Council with Slovakia; - Association Council with Slovenia; - Association Council with Turkey; - Cooperation Council with Ukraine; - Cooperation Council with Mercosur; - Cooperation Council with Chile.
