Brussels, 07/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs and External Relations Council on Monday 11 March will be largely devoted to examination of the conclusions of the European Council to be held in Brussels on 13-14 March. Foreign ministers will also discuss several external relations issues, thereby preparing the ground for head of state and government discussions at the summit. It still has to be decided which of these issues will make in onto the agenda (Afghanistan is expected to feature). In addition, several meetings will be held on the sidelines of the Council. On Monday, a four-party meeting with the Council of Europe, and an EU-Algeria Association Council are scheduled to be held. On Tuesday 11 March, a ministerial troika with Albania and an EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council will take place.
European Council. Ministers will return to the draft European Council conclusions. The European Council will discuss the new three-year cycle of the Lisbon strategy (see EUROPE 9613 and 9614), climate and energy issues (see EUROPE 9612 and 9614) and the stability of financial markets (see EUROPE 9612). Ministers will also consider a report prepared by the EU high representative for the CFSP, Javier Solana, and the Commission on the impact of climate change on international security and stability (see related article) which will be discussed at the summit.
WTO/Doha Round. The day after the informal meeting of EU trade ministers in Brussels on Sunday evening 9 March (see EUROPE 9617), the External Relations Council will adopt conclusions with a view to possible ministerial-level discussions at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva (see related article).
Middle East. Ministers will discuss the situation in the region. They will reiterate their support for the Annapolis peace process, at a time when Israel is on alert after the attack on a religious school in Jerusalem which killed eight people on Thursday evening 6 March. This attack, the first in Jerusalem for just over four years, was celebrated by thousands of people in Gaza, illustrating the heightened tensions since the start of Israeli military operations in the Hamas-controlled territory. The Council will also discuss the lasting deadlock in Lebanon.
Zimbabwe. The Council will discuss the situation in the country, ahead of the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 29 March. In its conclusions, the Council is expected to express its continued concern about the humanitarian, political and economic situation in Zimbabwe, and conditions on the ground which may endanger the holding of free and fair elections. It is expected to call on the Zimbabwean government to ensure that the elections meet international standards.
Georgia. Ministers will discuss the state of bilateral relations and the political situation in the country following the serious political crisis of November 2007 and the presidential elections of 5 January. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for May. The situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia (both of which are demanding their independence) will also probably be discussed. Making reference to Kosovo, the parliament of South Ossetia has just called on the EU, the UN, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States to recognise its self-proclaimed independence. Ministers are expected to repeat the EU position, approved on 18 February, that Kosovo is a one-off case, which does not alter the principles of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Western Balkans. Over lunch, the Council will discuss developments in the region since the External Relations Council of 18 February. Ministers will be briefed on the progress in the deployment of the EU rule of law mission (EULEX) in Kosovo and will discuss general political developments in the region, particularly in Serbia, since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February. According to our information, 15 EU member states have now recognised Kosovo as an independent state: Slovenia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands and Finland. The Council will adopt conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina, welcoming the recent decision of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) that the office of the high representative of the international community will remain in Sarajevo until necessary objectives and conditions are met (see EUROPE 9611). The recent European Commission communication on the Balkans, presented on 5 March (see EUROPE 9616) is unlikely to be discussed by ministers. It will, however, feature prominently at the informal meeting (“Gymnich”) in Brdo in Slovenia on 28-29 March.
Iran. Also over lunch, ministers will discuss the Iranian nuclear issue, following the adoption by the UN Security Council of a further resolution, tightening the sanctions provided for in two previous resolutions (1737 and 1747). Resolution 1803 foresees the inspection of ships suspected of carrying banned goods, closer surveillance of financial institutions and continuing the travel ban and freezing of assets. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, the United States, France, Russia and the United Kingdom) along with Germany urge Javier Solana to continue negotiating with Iranian chief negotiator Saeed Jalili. No dates for further meetings have yet been put forward by Europe and Iran is preparing for general elections on 14 March 2008. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Security Council Resolution is pointless and irrelevant and has ruled out any discussions outside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This hardline position makes it difficult to make progress on the cooperation offering put forward in June 2006 by the Security Council and Germany, which indicated after the vote on the Resolution on Monday that they were prepared to fine-tune their proposals. (A.B./A.N./H.B.)