Brussels, 14/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - The question of whether Croatia can begin membership talks on 17 March will certainly be a key subject of discussion at the General Affairs Council on 16 March. The Presidency will also present its “negotiating box” on financial perspectives and look at the arrangements for the Spring Summit next week. The full agenda is as follows:
Croatia: After the Coreper meeting (EUROPE of 21 February) during which the Luxembourg Presidency noted that there was no agreement for beginning membership talks, the Luxembourg EU Council Presidency and Member States looked at the various solutions should - as is very likely - there still be disagreement on Tuesday morning during a further meeting of Coreper. Although the situation could change at any moment if the fugitive Croatian general, Ante Gotovina, is transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague by Wednesday, the most likely solution seems to be that the ministers will adopt, on Wednesday, the legal framework for negotiation (a technical measure that defines the principles of negotiation without giving the go-ahead to talks) but that the opening of talks will be postponed. Until when? While some countries urge that the EU should “at least” set a new target date for launching negotiations, others refuse a new deadline which, they say, would put the EU with its back to the wall. The Presidency does not intend, in the event of disagreement in Council, to take the matter before the summit on 22 and 23 March.
Financial perspectives: The Presidency will present the first version of its “negotiating box”, a framework for negotiation that does not yet contain figures or percentages but “already a few principles” on which, the Presidency explained, “there is agreement among the Twenty-Five”. This framework should be gradually filled to reach an .agreement at the European Council on 16/17 June.
Preparation for the Summit: The Council will examine draft conclusions on: - the Stability Pact; - the Lisbon Strategy; - sustainable development; - and climate change.
Middle East: During lunch, ministers will tackle the situation in the Middle East. They are expected to adopt conclusions on Lebanon, stressing that withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence services must be complete and take place according to a clear timetable. The Council may discuss the possibility of the EU having an observer role at the elections scheduled for May.
Iran: Ministers will tackle the situation in Iran and the nuclear issue (see page 5).
Human Rights: The Council will prepare the session of the UN Committee on Human Rights (in Geneva from 14 March to 22 April). The EU will present geographic initiatives in Geneva (Burma/Myanmar, North Korea) and thematic initiatives (religious intolerance, death penalty) and will take part in joint initiatives on other issues.
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP): The Council will adopt the regulation on the new GSP to take effect on 1 April, remaining valid until end 2008. The Presidency has presented a proposal of compromise with the support of a large majority of delegations. The main question still outstanding concerns textiles. It is a matter of knowing whether the “graduation threshold” for textiles (percentage of total imports of the product concerned originating in a beneficiary country which, if exceeded, would mean that the country no longer benefits from GSP) will be 12.5% (as suggested by the Commission) or 10% (as the EP would like). Although some delegations would prefer a single graduation threshold of 15% for all products, several others are in favour of a 10% threshold for textiles.
Russia: The Council is expected to take stock of the progress being made in negotiations on the four “common spaces”. Adoption of the roadmaps for their implementation is predicted at the Summit of 10 May in Moscow. The Presidency admits that there are still problems, especially when it comes to “external security” and JHA affairs, but, according to diplomats, talks are moving forward “on track” and should conclude by 10 May.
Neighbourhood Policy: The Commission is to present its reports on the state of preparedness of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Egypt, as well as Lebanon, with a view to negotiating action plans. The Presidency trusts that these negotiations will begin after the General Affairs Council in April.
On Monday evening, a “quadripartite” meeting will be held with the Council of Europe.