Brussels, 07/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - A particularly full agenda awaits the EU foreign ministers who are to meet on 11 October in Luxembourg for the General Affairs and External Relations Council under the chairmanship of Bernard Bot. Items on the agenda are:
Preparation of European Council of 5 November. Ministers will give their views on the agenda annotated by the Presidency on the following subjects: - preparation of mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy; - adoption of a new multi-annual agenda for the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice; - "communicating" on Europe; - enlargement; - and CFSP and ESDP.
Counter-terrorism. On the basis of a progress report prepared by Javier Solana, ministers will assess progress made in implementation of the counter-terrorist action plan adopted at the European Council in June this year. The Presidency summed up by saying that definite progress has been made, albeit slowly. The work of the Counter-Terrorist Coordinator, Gijs de Vries, will be examined. Conclusions will be adopted.
Enlargement. The Commission will present recommendations on Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia (see yesterday's EUROPE, pp.3-7) but the Presidency does not foresee any substantive debate, saying it is too early to begin such a debate. Member States, the Presidency continued, must first of all study the reports carefully and ministers will naturally be free, on Monday, to put questions forward although no debate is foreseen. The Council, on the other hand, will adopt conclusions on how it will prepare the decisions of the European Council of 17 December.
Financial perspectives 2007-2013. The Presidency will present a progress report summarising the positions taken by Member States on the negotiation methodology it proposes, which consists in an individual examination of the various headings and various budgetary sub-headings (the "building block approach"), rather than simply focusing the debate on the overall budgetary allocation. During the last Council, the Presidency had noted a large majority in favour of this building-block approach (EUROPE of 14 September, p.12). Monday's debate will allow it to fine-tune this methodology, the aim being to reach an agreement at the December summit on guidelines for final negotiations to be held in 2005.
Libya. The Council should decide on lifting restrictive measures (decided by the EU in application of the UN Security Council resolutions in 1992 and 1993) and waive the embargo against arms exports toward Tripoli. Ministers will insist on respect of human rights and on good cooperation with Libya when it comes to immigration.
Burma/Myanmar. The Council will decide on strengthening sanctions against the regime, after expiry of the EU September ultimatum for allowing the ASEM Summit to be held in Hanoi (EUROPE of 14 September, p.5). The Presidency said on Thursday: "It is clear the human rights situation has not improved and that our demands have not been met. We therefore have no choice but to strengthen sanctions". In concrete terms, the Council will among other things extend the list of persons affected by a visa ban and will prohibit European firms from lending to or investing in state-owned companies in Burma.
European Neighbour Policy. The Commission will point out to the Council that consultation on action plans is now practically complete with Ukraine, Moldova, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia and that it could be closed for Israel in the near future. The Presidency expects that the Commission will be able to adopt the plans by the end of the month before submitting them to Council.
Balkans. The Council will hold an exchange of views with the General Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Carla del Ponte, before adopting conclusions on: - cooperation by countries of the region with the ICTY; - Serbia and Montenegro; - and Kosovo.
Sudan/Darfur. The Council will hold a new debate but no decision (for example, on sanctions) is expected. The EU, on the other hand, will restate its support to efforts made by the African Union.
Indonesia. Ministers will hold a debate on the political situation, followed by the adoption of conclusions.
During lunch, ministers will also discuss the embargo on arms exports to China (no decision is expected as, the Presidency says, this will simply be an "exchange of views"), the situation in Iran, in Ukraine (on the eve of presidential elections), and in the African Great Lakes region.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Tajikistan will also be signed on the sidelines of the Council, and, on Monday evening, an Association Council will be held with Jordan.