Brussels, 16/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Security and defence along with development will dominate the agenda of the General Affairs/External Relations Council in Brussels on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 November. Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Cooperation and Development Ministers will meet one after the other, separately or in twos according to a well practised routine. In addition to preparing for the European Council in December and the EU-China (28 November), EU-India (30 November) and EU-Africa (9 December) Summits, ministers will adopt conclusions on the Balkans, the Middle East and Iraq. Other conclusions will also be discussed in joint meetings on the CFSP (see related article) and on development-related issues (see related article). An Association Council meeting with Tunisia will take place on the sidelines of the Council on Monday. On Tuesday, there will be an EU-European Economic Area (EEA) Council and a ministerial Troika with Turkey.
European Council of 14 December. In the General Affairs section, ministers will be informed of the state if preparedness of the December Summit, which will be largely given over to JHA issues (extension of the Schengen area, migration policy, terrorism), economic, social and environmental matters (Lisbon Strategy, sustainable development, climate change) and international political issues, in particular Kosovo and Africa. Monday's Council will also hold a public debate on the European Commission's 2008 work programme.
Kosovo. The EU representative on the international troika Wolfgang Ischinger will attend the ministers' debate on the state of talks between Serbs and Albanian Kosovars on the future status of the Serbian province. The 10 December deadline is approaching fast, but, with positions deeply entrenched, there would appear to be no real prospect of a negotiated solution. Although, on Monday, European Ministers are likely to approve conclusions calling on both parties to “intensify” negotiations, show greater “flexibility” and find a “negotiated settlement”, the EU is already preparing to react to a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. Were this to happen, the EU, according to diplomats quoted in the press, is likely to adopt a common position, on condition that it receives the firmest assurances that the rights of the Serbian minority and other ethnic groups (notably Roma) living in Kosovo are respected. Officially, the Portuguese presidency of the EU does not wish to envisage such a scenario. “We haven't come to that yet. There is still time to reach a negotiated agreement” if both sides show willing, said a Portuguese diplomat on Friday 16 November.
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ministers will express their concern over the political situation in the country, call on the leaders of the Bosnian-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska to resume dialogue, and re-state their support for EU special representative Miroslav Lajcak.
Georgia. The Council will take stock of the situation in the country where the state of emergency was lifted on Friday 16 November and where early presidential elections are scheduled for 5 January 2008.
Pakistan. There will be discussion of Pakistan over lunch, the EU having expressed its concern at the imposition by President Pervez Musharaf of a state of emergency on 3 November (see inter alia EUROPE 9543) and called for free and fair general elections to be held in January.
Middle East. With the approach of the Annapolis (United States) conference at the end of the month, ministers will discuss the Middle East peace process with High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana. In their conclusions, ministers are likely to re-state their support for the Palestinian people, and also call on the international community to pledge finance at the donors' conference, in Paris in December, to fund the administration and economy of the future Palestinian state.
Lebanon. Despite uncertainty over the election of a new president and the suspension of the parliament until 21 November, conclusions on Lebanon are likely to note the spirit of openness and dialogue that has been evident over the last few weeks.
Iran. Over lunch still, European foreign ministers will hold an exchange of views with Solana on the Iranian nuclear issue. It is becoming less and less likely that Solana and the Iranian chief negotiator Said Jalili will meet before Solana submits his report to the UN Security Council and Germany.
Iraq. Ministers will then meet their Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari. Their conclusions will highlight the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between Iraq and Turkey.
Myanmar/Burma. Following political agreement in October (see EUROPE 9524), the Council will adopt, without discussion, a common position on sanctions against the regime. (A.B./H.B.)