Genval, 10/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - A military presence from Member States in Macedonia, under NATO leadership and with a mandate from the United Nations; consensus on several aspects for preparations for the debate on the future of Europe - these are the main results of the Informal meeting of Member State Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) at Genval near Brussels on 8-9 September. Member States discussed the Middle East and condemned the worsening situation, as well as reaffirmed their commitment to play a strong diplomatic role in the region. The agenda had been significantly revised because Ministers began their meeting with a discussion on the Durban Conference and racism and the latest wrangling going on there. They were therefore unable to discuss a number of subjects (anti-globalisation movements, Russia, Ukraine, and the White Paper on Governance) or just touched on them briefly.
During the final press conference, the President of the Council, Louis Michel expressed satisfaction that Member States were increasingly united in their political positions, which were also more consensual and relatively clear. He was keen to point out the unity of Member States at Durban, as well as the candidate countries, in stressing that a united Europe could play an important role in world events. All those attending the dinner held on Saturday in Genval, dedicated to the Durban Conference and the main participants and organisers of the conference, were keen to emphasise the crucial importance of unity between Member States and the decisive role played by the Union in demonstrating its ability to assert itself on the world stage. The European High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, together with Chris Patten "paid homage" in the press to Louis Michel, who represented the EU at the conference (he couldn't attend Gymnich for that reason).
After debating EU policy in the Middle East, Macedonia and the future of Europe (see below), Africa, Cuba and Libya were also mentioned. The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Renato Ruggiero, indicated that Colonel Kadhafi, who he had recently met in Libya, wanted to normalise relations with the European Union. Louis Michel stated that Member States had decided to maintain contacts in order to assess the situation.
The meeting was concluded at a dinner with candidate countries (see separate news item).
- Africa: Louis Michel outlined what he wished to cover at the EU/Africa Ministerial meeting on 11 October. He explained to the press that eight themes will be tackled: regional co-operation, AIDS, food security, conflict prevention, environment, return of cultural objects, debt and human rights. The meeting should normally review the transition of the Organisation of African Unity towards the "African Union", the "New African Initiative" and conflicts. A meeting will take place on 11 October with countries supporting the New African Initiative, as well as with the Secretary General and President of the OAU. Louis Michel announced that he intended to postpone his trip to Central Africa so that he could be joined there by High Representative Solana and European Commissioners Patten and Nielson. He explained that he wanted this to make "for a strong and efficient representation" of the European Union in Africa.
- Cuba: Louis Michel gave a report-back of his official visit to Cuba on 23-24 August and his meeting with Fidel Castro. Ministers have said that they are in favour of the EU creating the conditions for resuming talks, interrupted by Cuba a year ago after the EU gave its support to a UN resolution on civil rights in the country. Mr Michel explained, however, that if this were going to happen, Cuba would need to make a gesture, which has not yet occurred. The Spanish Minister, Josep Piqué pointed out that it was Cuba that had decided to break off talks, and if it wanted to resume them, that was fine. Mr Piqué explained to the press that although the Belgian proposal for resuming dialogue without any preliminary conditions was "very reasonable", there was still a clear and common EU position that would be maintained. This position adopted in 1996 under Spanish pressure, links greater co-operation to progress with democratic rights in Cuba.
- Zimbabwe: the British Minister, jack Straw, gave a brief summary of the progress made at the Commonwealth meeting in Harare and expressed his wish that the Abudja agreements be applied.