Brussels, 13/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty (see related article) and its impact on the future of the European Union will certainly take up a large part of the discussions at the General Affairs/External Relations Council to be held in Luxembourg on Monday 16 June, with Dimitrij Rupel in the chair. As we went to press on Friday afternoon, it was still impossible to say to what extent the Irish referendum result would upset the agenda of this Council that was supposed to prepare for the European Council of 19-20 June (which could very well be dominated by this new institutional crisis, too) and discuss relations with Cuba, the Western Balkans and Africa. Four other major events will take place on the sidelines of the Council on Monday: the signing of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina; - Association Council with Israel; - ministerial meetings on accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia (see EUROPE 9681).
The following is the “official agenda” of Monday's Council as it stood on Friday afternoon:
European Council. Ministers will prepare next week's heads of state and government meeting (19-20 June), working from draft conclusions drawn up by the Slovenian Presidency. This text, which was still being discussed in COREPER on Friday afternoon, will deal principally with: - Lisbon Treaty: initially intended by the Presidency as simply a report on the technical discussions which have been going on in COREPER since January in preparation for the coming into effect of the treaty on 1 January 2009, this item will, after the Irish referendum, probably become a general discussion among heads of state and government on this latest institutional crisis in the EU; - the possible political implications of the soaring oil and food prices; - Justice, liberty and security: Ministers will take stock of the various on-going initiatives: - economic and environmental issues (Lisbon Strategy, energy/climate package, internal energy market); - Western Balkans, with paragraphs on each of the countries; - International relations: there will be discussion here on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), with regard both to the Union for the Mediterranean and strengthening the policy, as well as on the Millennium Development Goals.
Work programme for next Presidential “trio”. France, the Czech Republic and Sweden, which will succeed one another in holding the rotating Presidency of the EU over the next 18 months, will, on Monday, present their joint work programme, finalised at the end of May (see EUROPE 9670).
Western Balkans. Ministers will adopt conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina (among other things, welcoming the signing of the SAA which will take place on Monday) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM). The message of the conclusions on the FYRM will depend to a great extent on the partial re-run of the general election of 1 June, in the 196 polling stations which had to be closed because of violence (see EUROPE 9673). COREPER will meet on Monday morning to prepare the text of the conclusions.
Cuba. As every year in June, ministers will take stock of relations with Cuba. Following the hand-over of power by Fidel Castro, most member states - led by Spain - have argued for the total and immediate lifting of the diplomatic sanctions that have been in place since 2003 (these, largely symbolic, measures have been suspended since 2005). Other member states, like the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom are sceptical; they would like to see the new regime under Raul Castro make real progress on human rights and fundamental freedoms before considering any removal of sanctions. The Slovenian Presidency has drawn up a draft text which proposes: - increased political dialogue; - the removal of sanctions, - re-assessment of the situation in 2009, particularly with regard to the usefulness of the political dialogue. Ministers will decide on Monday.
Middle East. The Council will discuss the situation in the region, particularly Lebanon, and will adopt a common position ahead of the Association Council with Israel on Monday evening (see related article).
Iran. Over lunch, Javier Solana will report to ministers on his visit this Saturday and Sunday to Tehran, where he will present Iran with the latest package of proposals from the “Six” (see EUROPE 9680
and 9681).
Africa. The Council will hold a wide-ranging debate on Africa and will adopt conclusions on the regions of the Great Lakes, Somalia, Zimbabwe and Sudan/Darfur. Attending the debate on Darfur will be the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno Ocampo. The Council will reiterate its support for the ICC and will deplore the lack of cooperation from the Sudanese government with the Court. However, ministers will not impose targeted sanctions against members of the Sudanese government, as called for by the EP and human rights organisations (see EUROPE 9681).
Burma/Myanmar. Six weeks after cyclone Nargis hit the country, the Council will briefly take stock of the situation in Burma/Myanmar, with particular reference to access to humanitarian aid.
China. Over lunch, ministers will discuss China, and particularly Tibet. (H.B./transl.rt)