Brussels, 13/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Here is the agenda for the General Affairs and External Relations Council due to take place on Monday 16 March under the presidency of Karel Schwarzenberg and Alexandr Vondra:
European Council of 19-20 March. The foreign affairs ministers will examine the draft conclusions of the Czech Presidency and seek agreement on the final outstanding points. They will also discuss the package of €5 billion of Community investments (energy infrastructure and internet) proposed by the Commission to contribute to the economic relaunch in Europe (see the article). The issue of the funding of the Eastern Partnership (EUROPE 9847), to which the European Council is supposed to give its green light, will also be discussed on Monday.
Belarus. The ministers will discuss sanctions and the possibility of including the country in the neighbourhood policy and future Eastern Partnership (see other article below).
Western Balkans. The Council will hold a debate on the delicate situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and adopt conclusions on the approach to follow after the appointment of the new Special Representative of the EU, Valentin Inzko. In particular, the ministers will look into the possibility of ensuring the transition so that once the Bureau of the High Representative (BHR) closes, the country will be able to take its own destiny in hand more with the support of a reinforced presence of the EU. With regard to this, the ministers will also discuss the option of transforming the military operation ALTHEA into an observation and training mission. However, the accession request by Montenegro, which is still being blocked by a number of member states (Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg) which do not wish the Commission to be called upon at this stage to prepare its opinion, will not be discussed by the ministers on Monday. Friday's Coreper decided that the subject would be raised at the Gymnich of 27-28 March in the Czech Republic, with a view to a possible decision at the External Relations Council of April.
Sudan. The Council will examine the situation in Darfur and recent events in the region.
United States. Over lunch, the ministers will discuss preparations for the informal summit with American President Barack Obama, to be held in Prague on 5 April.
Middle East. Also over lunch, the Council will discuss the situation in Gaza, inter-Palestinian talks and the situation in Israel.
Other business. Several subjects under "any other business" will be discussed: - the dramatic humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka; - the Durban review conference to be held in Geneva in April; - the Italian minister will lay out the priorities of the G8. The Council will also adopt conclusions on Afghanistan and on EUFOR/Chad/RCA.
A number of other important meetings will be held on the sidelines of the Council: - Sunday evening (15 March), a dinner of the ministerial troika of the EU with the foreign affairs ministers of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority; - on Monday evening, a meeting of the EU troika with the foreign affairs minister of Montenegro; - on Tuesday, a meeting between the EU troika and a delegation of the OSCE. (H.B./trans.fl)