Brussels, 15/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - The first General Affairs/External Relations Council under the British Presidency, which will take place in Brussels on Monday 18 July, chaired by British foreign secretary Jack Straw, will have a packed agenda.
Work programme. Jack Straw will start by briefing his colleagues on the broad outlines of the British Presidency's work programme, highlighting the Presidency's plans to reach agreement on the Financial Perspectives by the end of the year.
Enlargement. Commissioner Olli Rehn will brief ministers on the draft negotiating mandate adopted by the European Commission at the end of June for Turkey's accession negotiations (due to commence on 3 October 2005). The British Presidency wants to avoid debating the highly charged politics of the issue at the Council, considering that more technical work is required on the adoption of the negotiating mandate before it is debated at ministerial level (probably at the Gymnich type foreign affairs meeting to be held at the Celtic Manor in Newport, South Wales, on 1 and 2 September).
The Council will also look at Croatia and its cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague (ICTY), but is not expected to decide whether to launch accession negotiations. High-ranking officials on the EU Task Force on Croatia set up under the Luxembourg Presidency to closely monitor the Croatian government's implementation of its action plan on cooperation with the ICTY met this week and noted progress in Zagreb's attitude, adding there had not been significant enough progress to consider a positive decision in the very near future, explained the British Presidency on Thursday. The Task Force will meet again in September.
China. The ministers will prepare for the EU-China Summit in Beijing on 5 September, expected to adopt a joint general statement and a statement on energy and climate change. The Summit will also look at human rights, trade matters (progress in the Doha Round negotiations and the controversial question of 'market economy' status China is trying to get the EU to granted it), Asian policy matters (like the situation in North Korea and Burma) and reform of the UN.
Development. The Council will discuss preparations for the UN Millennium Review Summit in New York on 14 - 16 September. The Commission will present ministers will a communication on the issue.
Iran. The French, German and British foreign ministers and the EU High Representative for t6he CFSP, Javier Solana, will brief colleagues on the state of play in the current round of negotiations with Iran over three areas of the November 2004 Paris Agreement (on which the EU will be publishing a package in August), namely nuclear proliferation, political and security matters and economic and technological cooperation.
Middle East. Javier Solana will brief ministers on the outcome of his 10-14 July visit to the Middle East. The Council will adopt conclusions on the situation in the region, reiterating the EU's support for Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, described as the 'first step' towards a fair, sustainable and overall peace settlement. The Council will reaffirm its pledge to boost the Palestinian Authority's security capabilities and is expected to decide to provide sustained support for the Palestinian civilian police authority in the form of a new mission under the European Common Security and Defence Policy.
Syria and Lebanon. Ministers will discuss the situation in Lebanon in the presence of the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, Terje Roed-Larsen. The Council will state that the Resolution will have to be applied to the letter and will call on Syria to take action to ensure greater stability in the region.
Uzbekistan. Pointing out that Uzbek President Karimov has missed the June deadline set by the EU for agreeing to an independent international investigation into the massacres in Andijan, the Council is expected on Monday to suspend further deepening of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. A meeting of the economic subcommittee, scheduled for 13 July, had already been suspended. In the Council conclusions, the ministers will ask Member States to raise democracy and human rights in all their contacts with Uzbekistan democracy and human rights in all their bilateral contacts.
Zimbabwe. The Council will adopt conclusions expressing the EU's concern regarding the current situation in the country.
Trade. Commissioner Peter Mandelson will take stock of progress in the Doha round of trade talks after the “mini-ministerial” meeting held this week in Dalian (China). An informal dinner for EU trade ministers will take place on Monday evening after the General Affairs Council.
Russia. Estonia hopes to mention Russia's refusal to sign the Russia/Estonia border agreement.
Furthermore, the Council will adopt without debate a series of documents on various issues, namely: - counter-terrorism. Ministers will adopt brief conclusions that will essentially refer to the conclusions adopted on Wednesday by the extraordinary JHA Council (see EUROPE 8990); - Sudan/Darfur. Ministers will adopt the joint action in support of the African Union in Sudan (AMIS II) in the civil and military fields. The Council will formally appoint Peeka Haavisto of Finland as special EU representative to Sudan; - Western Balkans. The Council will adopt conclusions on Albania, the ten-year commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre as well as cooperation with FYROM; - Central Asia. The Council will endorse the appointment of Jan Kubis of Slovakia as EU special representative for Central Asia; - Iraq. Ministers will adopt conclusions on the results of the international conference in support of Iraq held on 22 June; - Afghanistan. The Council will adopt conclusions with a view to parliamentary and provincial elections to be held on 18 September this year. The EU will be sending an observer mission for these elections end July; - India. Ministers will adopt a text with a view to preparing the EU/India Summit scheduled for 7 September in New Delhi.
On Monday afternoon, on the fringe of the Council, an EU/FYROM Stabilisation and Association Council will be held. On Tuesday morning, the EU/Kazakhstan Cooperation Council will take place.