Brussels, 15/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday 18 February for a General Affairs-External Relations Council certain to be dominated by Kosovo.
Kosovo. How will the European Union respond to the unilateral declaration of independence which the government of Kosovo will, in all probability, make on Sunday 17 February? That is the very sensitive question to which the foreign ministers will have to find an answer on Monday. The Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU cautiously does not wish to make any statements or comments before the end of the ministers' meeting. The EU response, which will probably take the form of Council conclusions, will have to take account of the differing views held by member states, particularly on the issue of recognition of the independent Kosovo. At the same time, it will reflect the consensus on other points, such as the “European perspective” of the Balkan countries (including Kosovo), sending a civilian ESDP mission, commitment to the rule of law and the protection of minorities (in particular Serbian) in a multi-ethnic Kosovo.
The Council will get round the problem of recognition by noting that the EU as such cannot recognise new states - that being an exclusively national competence and one for member states to decide bilaterally. Most of the 27 member states will recognise an independent Kosovo, either immediately after it declares independence or in the weeks and months to come (national procedures for recognition vary from one member state to another: in some, like the United Kingdom, it is the government which decides, while in others, such as Slovenia and Denmark, for example, the decision rests with parliament). Cyprus and Romania have already indicated that they would recognise the new state, while Greece, Slovakia, Spain and Bulgaria still have reservations and will probably wait longer before deciding. Furthermore, the Council will probably stress that the timetable for recognition is entirely up to member states.
A further important point in the Council conclusions will be the confirmation of the “European perspective” of the Western Balkan countries “including Kosovo”. This message, highlighting that the future and the place of all the countries in the region is in the EU, will be aimed mainly at Serbia, which the Commission wants at all costs to keep on the path towards European integration. The offer, made by the EU to Serbia in January, of an “interim political agreement” for increased cooperation without waiting for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) to be signed and come into force “is still on the table and we are still waiting for the Serbian authorities to give the green light for the text to be signed,” said sources close to the Slovenian presidency of the EU. The presidency is of the opinion that Serbia will be able to move very quickly towards the status of applicant country.
Sending a police and justice mission (EULEX) will form another important part of the EU reaction to the independence of Kosovo. Following the unanimous policy decision taken by the European Council of December 2007 to send such a civilian ESDP mission to support the first steps of an independent Kosovo and to replace the UNMIK, the EU is about to complete the long and complex decision-making process. The common action on the legal basis (resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council) and the budgetary aspects of the mission, along with the Concept of operations (CONOPS) were adopted (with unanimity among member states, after Cyprus abstained: see EUROPE 9595). This week, member states decided to give the go-ahead to the last of the decisions required - mission operation plans (OPLAN) - using the particular “silent procedure”. The deadline for the expiry of this procedure has been set for midnight on Friday 15 February. If, by that time, no member state opposes the deployment, the decision will be considered to have been adopted and the mission launched, diplomats said on Friday. The decision will not then be required to be confirmed or formalised by ministers on Monday, the same sources said. After the expiry of the “silent procedure”, the period of 120 days to allow the EU to deploy the mission will begin. However, it will only be able to replace the UNMIK in four months time, after the 120 days. The EU is also expected to restate its commitment to support the economic and social development of Kosovo and the whole Balkan region, notably through the stabilisation and association process.
European Council. At the general affairs session, the EU27 ministers will examine an annotated draft agenda prepared by the Slovenian presidency for the spring meeting of the European Council to be held in Brussels on 13-14 March 2008. The European Council will focus on the launch of the new three-year cycle of the EU's strategy for jobs and growth for 2008-2012 under the Lisbon strategy. They will confirm that the integrated guidelines will remain in force for 2008-2010 and will endorse the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPG) and country-specific recommendations (see EUROPE 9562), along with the Community Lisbon programme accompanying them. The four pillars of the revised Lisbon strategy identified by the 2006 Spring summit will be brought over (knowledge and innovation; investment in human capital and updating the labour market; the corporate environment; energy and climate change).
The European Council will also look at the stability of the financial markets and examine the energy and climate package adopted on 23 January (see EUROPE 9586). The heads of state will try to reach agreement on key principles and guidelines for the energy and climate change package, and will discuss foreign policy aspects of the EU's climate policy. They are expected to adopt a strategy for energy technology (see EUROPE 9549). Several foreign policy issues are also on the agenda.
Chad. The Council will discuss the situation in Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic. In the conclusions document, the foreign ministers will re-affirm backing for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778, which paved the way for the sending of an EU mission to Chad and the Central African Republic. Following a call-off after recent armed attacks on Chad, the deployment of the EU's EUFOR Chad/CAR mission resumed on 12 February and the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, hopes it will be operational by the middle of next month (see related article). Concerned about the regional ramifications of the attempts to overturn the Chad government, the Council backs the UN's and African Union's call for Chad's sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity to be respected. In the light of the recent events, the ministers stressed the importance of the EU's CFSP mission, which will help ensure security in eastern Chad. They stressed the impartial, natural and independent nature of EUFOR and urged Sudan to facilitate the rapid deployment of the hybrid United Nations and African Union mission in Darfur (MINUAD).
Kenya. The ministers will urge the Kenyan leaders to resolve the current political crisis and bring an immediate end to the violence since the 27 December 2007 presidential elections. Violent clashes between supporters of the two presidential candidates, Raila Odinga, and the re-elected President, Mwai Kibaki, have resulted in more than a thousand deaths and around 300,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. Talks started on 29 January 2008 under the auspices of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, with a mandate from the African Union. In its conclusions document, the Council will point out that until there is agreement on a legitimate political solution to the crisis, the EU and its member states will not be able to conduct business as usual with Kenya.
Burma/Myanmar. Noting the announcement by the Burmese junta of a referendum on a new constitution in May 2008 and multi-party elections in 2010, the Council will again urge the country's authorities to take rapid measures to ensure transition to a democratically-elected government. The conclusions document underscores that only a process that involves the full participation of the opposition and ethnic groups will lead to national reconciliation and stability. It again calls for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Ky.
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The Council will adopt conclusions calling for an extension of the scope of the free trade agreements signed with ENP countries that are already WTO members. This will also apply to ENP partner countries in the Mediterranean region on liberalisation of services, trade in farm products and the right of establishment, according to the draft conclusions document. For the signing of free trade agreements with Georgia and Armenia, the Council will await recommendations from the European Commission before taking a decision.
Croatia/Enlargement. The Council will adopt conclusions urging Croatia to respect its commitments and ensure its Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone does not cover EU member states, particularly Italy and Slovenia. The Commission will be invited to launch dialogue with Croatia on this issue, which may disrupt Croatia's accession negotiations with the EU.
Moldova. The ministers will adopt conclusions expressing the EU's openness to discuss with the Moldovan authorities the signing of a new bilateral agreement that is more ambitious in scope than the current partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA). The Council will, however, first await the opinion of the European Commission which will be unveiling a report in April 2008 on the situation in Moldova. The ministers will stress the need to continue economic and political reforms and boost efforts to consolidate democracy, the rule of law and the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
WTO negotiations on Doha Round. Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is to present the European Commission's reaction to ministers concerning the revised compromise projects in agriculture and the industrial products tabled on 8 February by the WTO mediators on each of these dossiers, Crawford Falconer and Don Stephenson (see related article).
Furthermore, ministers will assess the situation in the Middle East, without adopting conclusions, and take stock of progress made on economic partnership agreements (EPAs). Discussions are currently continuing at technical level with ACP countries and groups of countries (Africa-Caribbean-Pacific). A troika with Montenegro will be held on the sidelines of the Council on Monday evening, and an Association Council with Lebanon will be held the following morning, on Tuesday 19 February. (A.B./H.B.)