Brussels, 25/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 28 January for the first General Affairs-External Relations Council under Slovenian presidency, and one which will be dominated by Serbia. Conclusions are also expected on the Middle East and Africa.
Serbia. The situation in Serbia will be the main topic of the ministers' discussion over lunch. Less than a week from the second round of voting in the Serbian presidential elections (3 February), one issue will preoccupy the European ministers: how best to help the pro-Europeans in Belgrade before this important vote in order to keep the country on course for European integration independently of the forthcoming decisions - painful for the Serbs - that the EU will make on the independence of Kosovo. For the Slovenian presidency and a large majority of member states, the answer is obvious. Monday's Council must send a very clear “sign of encouragement” to Serbia, a clear indication such as, for example, signing the already initialled Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). Slovenian Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Council Dimitrij Rupel has always argued for signing the SAA on 28 January, at the EU/Serbia troika scheduled for that evening. During his visit to Brussels, on Thursday 24 January, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen also called for the SAA to be signed immediately, before the second round of voting in Serbia. The chances of the required unanimity being found in Council are very slim, however. The Netherlands and Belgium remain opposed, until Belgrade “fully” cooperates with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), i.e. arrests and transfers Ratko Mladic to the court in The Hague. Unless there are any last minute changes, Monday's Council will have to restrict itself to expressing its desire to sign the SAA “as quickly as possible”, as soon as all the conditions are met. Apart from the SAA, the EU has other instruments to express its support for pro-European Serbs and stress Serbia's European prospects. The phased removal of the requirement for Serbian citizens to have a visa is one (there is already a visa facilitation agreement in place; it came into force on 1January 2008). On Monday, ministers will lend their support to the European Commission to open a dialogue on visa liberalisation with Serbia, and all the other countries of the Western Balkans (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia). In its conclusions, the Council will also reiterate its confidence that “Serbia's progress on the road towards the EU can be accelerated”.
Kosovo. However, “no issue related to Kosovo features on the agenda” of the Council stressed the Slovenian presidency on 25 January, confirming that the formal decision to send the civilian ESDP mission to Kosovo will not be taken on 28 January. Political and legal preparations for this decision are continuing, but the date of adoption will depend on political developments in Serbia and Kosovo over the following days and weeks, the presidency said.
Pakistan. Council will have an exchange of views on the situation in Pakistan with the approach of the general elections, to which the EU has sent an observation mission. During his visit to Europe which began in Brussels on Monday (see EUROPE 9585), Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf committed himself to holding free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.
Middle East. The Council will adopt conclusions on the Israel-Palestine peace process after the Annapolis meeting (see EUROPE 9553) and the Paris donors conference (see EUROPE 9567). Ministers will welcome the opening of negotiations between leaders from both sides with a view to reaching a peace agreement before the end of 2008, but will worry at the recent violence in Gaza. In conclusions on Lebanon, they will express regret at the political deadlock in which the country finds itself following the latest postponement - the thirteenth - of the presidential election (now scheduled for 11 February). Ministers will welcome the adoption, in Cairo on 6 January, by their counterparts in the Arab League of a plan to resolve the Lebanese crisis.
Africa. The Council will adopt conclusions on Sudan, Chad and the Republic of Central Africa, and the decision on the official launch of the EUFOR Chad-RCA mission. Conclusions on the situation in Kenya are also expected.
Over lunch, ministers will also discuss the Iranian nuclear issue. There has been no progress on this matter since the meeting, hastily arranged at the request of the Iranians, between Javier Solana and Saeed Jalili on Wednesday evening. (A.B./H.B.)