The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will be held on 10-11 March in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I will represent the UK.
The agenda items are as follows:
General Affairs
Preparation of the European Council on 13-14 March 2008
The European Council will focus on the key issues that concern EU citizens: economic stability, jobs, and growth and climate change. The Government want the EU to build on the ambitious climate change targets set by the spring European Council in 2007, and to agree an outline for further work on the security implications following the report by the High Representative.
The Government would also welcome progress on the 2007 spring European Council’s commitment to develop 12 carbon capture and storage demonstration plants by 2015. On jobs and growth the Government expect progress on delivering the next stage of the Lisbon process. This should include improved ambitions on building skills and entrepreneurship, through measures such as a skills review and continued reduction of the regulatory burdens on small business in particular.
The Government will be looking for strong European Council conclusions on opening up network markets, particularly in energy and telecoms. On financial stability and sovereign wealth funds, the Government will support a broad international approach.
The June 2007 European Council invited the High Representative and the Commission to produce a report on the impact of climate change on international security issues. This will be discussed at the spring European Council. The Government very much welcome the report as an important first step in understanding the implications of climate change for European foreign and security policy interests. The Government want the European Council to build on and amplify the conclusions of the report and ensure they lead to more detailed work, including through the development of action plans to mainstream climate change into security planning and policy making.
External Relations
WTO/PDA
Discussion is likely to focus on the substance of the agriculture and non-agricultural market access texts issued on 8 February and the structure through which the negotiations will be taken forward. The Government support the new texts as a basis for further progress and is encouraging partners to continue to engage in the process led by Pascal Lamy, the WTO Director-General, on the basis of these texts. The Government’s objective at the Council will be to encourage continued support for the Doha round, given its importance for both poverty reduction and the global economy
Middle East Peace Process
Council discussion is expected to focus on the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel, and highlight the urgent need for progress on the political process.
The Government is committed to supporting the process initiated at Annapolis, which has put the Israelis and Palestinians on a path to real negotiations in 2008, leading to a final settlement of two states living side by side in peace and security. The Government’s position is that Israeli security is absolutely fundamental to a just solution, and Palestinian hardship can only be tackled through a political process that creates an economically and socially viable Palestinian state at peace with Israel.
The Council is also likely to discuss Lebanon’s ongoing political crisis. The Government remain deeply concerned by the continued lack of a President in Lebanon and Syria’s role in obstructing a deal. The Government believe it is important that the EU continues to support the efforts of the Arab League to broker a solution and provide continued political and practical support to the Government of Lebanon. The Government will support conclusions that underline both the EU’s continued strong support for the Arab League’s mediation efforts and the urgent need to resolve the crisis.
Zimbabwe
The Government expect the Council to agree conclusions underlining the EU’s concern at the humanitarian, political and economic situation in Zimbabwe and drawing attention to reports on conditions on the ground prior to elections. The Government remain deeply concerned about conditions in Zimbabwe, especially in the run-up to the elections, and will continue to closely monitor the situation.
Georgia
The Government expect the focus of the discussion on Georgia to be on providing assistance to the Georgians ahead of their parliamentary elections—expected in May— to ensure that they are an improvement on the standard achieved during Georgia's presidential election in January. We are supportive of this aim, and of good EU support to Georgia across a range of issues, including on conflict resolution.
Iran
Following the adoption of a new UN Security Council resolution (1803) on Iran on 3 March, the Government will press for progress at EU level as soon as possible. This includes EU implementation of the resolution by way of a common position and the consideration of further EU measures as signalled in the conclusions of the December European Council. The Government fully support strengthening EU sanctions against Iran in response to its refusal to comply with its international obligations and will press partners to continue to take a firm stand on this issue.
Western Balkans
Foreign Ministers will discuss developments in the western Balkans since the 18 February GAERC, particularly those following Kosovo’s declaration of independence on 17 February. There are likely to be conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the Regional Co-operation Council. On Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Government strongly support the decision by the Peace Implementation Council on 26-27 February to extend the mandate of the High Representative until key objectives and conditions are met, including a positive assessment of the situation in Bosnia based on full compliance with the Dayton peace agreement.
The UK supports the Regional Co-operation Council, which succeeded the international community-led stability pact in February 2008, because it will enable the countries of south-eastern Europe to play a greater role in fostering peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity within the region.
The Government’s position on Kosovo’s independence was set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ Written Ministerial Statement of 19 February.