Brussels, 19/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers are to meet on Monday 23 April in Luxembourg for a General Affairs and External Relations Council focusing on international policy issues. The question of the Balkans will not be covered on Monday as no progress has been made since the informal meeting in Bremen (EUROPE 9399). Neither has there been progress on the formation of a new government in Serbia or on the Kosovo issue, which is currently in the hands of the United Nations Security Council. Also, the US project to set up a missile defence system on European soil does not appear on the Council agenda or on that of the ministerial Troika with Russia, to be held on Monday evening to cover the four common spaces (see related article). The next day, Tuesday 24 April, there will be two association councils, one with Algeria (see related article) and the other with Lebanon, as well as a ministerial Troika between the EU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organisation that brings together 16 countries of the region.
At France's request, and despite the little progress made in talks at the World Trade Organisation, Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will brief the Council on the results of the G4 meeting in New Delhi (EUROPE 9406) and the progress being made in the multilateral process in Geneva (EUROPE 9408). Before the joint meeting between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council, scheduled for 8 May in Riyadh, Mandelson will also speak of the state of progress in talks on the free trade agreement with the GCC, which groups the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
With a view to the EU/United States summit of 30 April in Washington, ministers will look at the three chapters of the document to be adopted on that occasion, preparations for which are continuing. On Wednesday, a representative from the German EU presidency, who is working on the matter with the US authorities, conceded that “on some points negotiations are difficult”. Although discussions on the creation of a single transatlantic marketplace without barriers are moving forward “quite well” and difficulties could be resolved quite rapidly regarding the political statement, questions of energy and environment are not as easy to resolve. The document, which constitutes a political commitment, will not be legally binding, the same diplomat said.
Jan Eliasson, UN Special Envoy for Sudan, will report on the situation in his country where the Khartoum authorities have finally agreed to go along with the launching of the second UN “heavy support package” for the African Union peace mission (AMIS). The draft conclusion, defined by the ambassadors of member states on Wednesday, nonetheless leaves it up to ministers to decide, where necessary, on whether to call for further sanctions at UN level. In March (EUROPE 9379), the ministers had agreed to build up the resources of the African Peace Facility again through funding from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF). This decision of principle requires the agreement of ACP countries, as recipients of funding in the context of their partnership with the EU. Although it is necessary to wait until 25 May for formal approval from ACP partners during the joint ACP/EU ministerial council, it would seem that ministers intend to adopt such an approach, explained a diplomat. The EU, for its part, hopes to release about €100 million from the €215 million required for AMIS operating costs until the end of the year.
In their conclusions on Somalia, ministers will reaffirm their support for the transitional federal institutions, will call on the authorities to convene a reconciliation conference as soon as possible and will support the African Union mission on the ground (AMISOM).
On the subject of Zimbabwe, conclusions are expected to express the Council's concern about the worsening of the human rights situation as well as that of the economic and political situation. The principle of extending the list of persons affected by restrictive measures should also be finalised (EUROPE 9409).
The Council will then hold a political debate on preparing the EU's strategy for Central Asia, to be adopted by the European Council in June. The themes covered will be: rule of law, democratisation, human rights, energy, training, economic cooperation, border cooperation and the fight against organised crime, a diplomat said. This regional approach will not allow a more specific approach on Monday on any given country of the region. As foreseen, the Council will assess, in May, how appropriate it is to lift current
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sanctions against Uzbekistan in the light of progress made on human rights (EUROPE 9379).
Over lunch, ministers will first of all take stock of the Middle East peace process for which they will adopt conclusions to officialise the results of their meeting in Bremen (EUROPE 9399). Financial assistance to the Palestinians will not be on the agenda as such. Given that the Quartet's principles (recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence and recognition of past agreements) are not recognised by the whole Palestinian national unity government, Europeans are sticking to their positions and only intend to have contacts with ministers that do not belong to Hamas. Finally, they will discuss the situation in Iran and EU action in favour of an Italian initiative for an international moratorium on the death penalty. (ab)