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General Affairs and External Relations Council

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will be held on 22 July in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will represent the UK.

The agenda items are as follows:

External Relations

Somalia

Ministers are likely to discuss the Commission’s Political Options and Piracy Options papers. The former covers the general political situation in Somalia. We agree with its findings and proposals, namely that the EU should continue to support the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in implementing UNSCR 1814, which sets out seven key areas for international action, and increase support for the Djibouti Agreement and AMISOM. On the Piracy Options paper, we agree that the EU should look at ways to help implement UNSCR 1816 on piracy. Our priority is to ensure a flexible approach from EU member states, bringing greater co-ordination of effort in the region, without duplicating or competing with existing arrangements.

We expect the Council conclusions to welcome the recent AU summit and its efforts on Somalia, including calls to reinforce AMISOM; to agree the importance of the UN's role in Somalia in regard to strengthening the Transitional Federal Institutions. The conclusions may also suggest that the Council Secretariat and European Commission study all possible options on how to best contribute to the implementation of UNSCR 1816.

Western Balkans

Discussion of the Western Balkans is likely to be brief, focussing on Serbia and Kosovo. On Serbia, Ministers are likely to discuss the recent formation in Belgrade of a pro-European Government. The Government are supportive of conclusions welcoming the formation of the new Government and encouraging it to fully co-operate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and play a constructive role in the region. On Kosovo, discussion is likely to centre on progress in deploying the EU's police and rule of law mission, EULEX. The Government support the reconfiguration of international presences in Kosovo, with EULEX rapidly deploying throughout Kosovo.

EU-Ukraine

The GAERC will discuss the EU’s position at the EU-Ukraine summit on 9 September. The main objective of the summit will be to reach broad agreement on the key elements of a new enhanced agreement currently being negotiated between the EU and Ukraine with a view to providing impetus to the negotiations and to economic and political reform in Ukraine more generally. The presidency is seeking to agree an ambitious EU position at the summit, for which the UK will offer strong support. We want the EU’s new enhanced agreement with Ukraine to be an ambitious one that underpins further reform and holds out the prospect of eventual membership of the EU. There will be no conclusions.

Iran

High Representative Solana is expected to brief Ministers on the outcome of his meeting with Saeed Jalili on 19 July and whether or not the Iranians are ready to accept the terms of the offer made by the E3 plus 3. In the light of this, the Council is also expected to discuss a new Common Position on strengthened implementation of UNSCR 1803. And Ministers may also discuss the need for further EU sanctions against Iran in the light of its continued defiance of UNSCRs 1696, 1737, 1747 and 1803, as well as the recent IAEA reports reinforcing concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. The Government fully support strengthening EU sanctions against Iran and has been pressing partners to support the sanctions track, alongside incentives, as a way of influencing the growing political debate inside Iran.

Middle East

The Quartet Representative, Tony Blair, is expected to debrief Ministers on the latest developments. France is likely to set out their presidency’s plans for the Middle East Peace Process. Discussion is also like to focus on: the EU’s practical and political support for the process; the continuing negotiations between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas; the Gaza ceasefire; and the humanitarian and economic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Government are 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. 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.

Chad/Central African Republic

We expect the GAERC to focus on the contributions of EUFOR and MINURC AT to the regional security situation. EUFOR is the EU’s military mission to eastern Chad and CAR, and MINURCAT is the accompanying UN police-training mission. The Council conclusions will highlight the contributions to EUFOR from non-EU countries, which the Government welcome. The Government will support references to EUFOR’s continued impartiality in all regional conflicts, and the good co-ordination between EUFOR and MINURCAT. The Government hope that MINURCAT will continue its deployment in Chad, and that the rate of deployment will increase where possible.

Zimbabwe

The Government expect the Council to agree conclusions underlining the EU’s deep concern over the situation in Zimbabwe and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The Council conclusions will underline that the EU cannot recognise the 27 June election result as credible or reflecting the will of the Zimbabwean people.

The Government will be pressing partners to adopt a series of extended targeted measures against those involved in human rights abuses and the campaign of violence.

Transatlantic Relations

Ministers are expected to discuss the progress of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) and visa/customs issues. The Government fully support the TEC as a vehicle to drive forward closer EU-US economic co-operation. TEC meetings have made some progress, although discussions have been strained at times on controversial issues such as EU imports of US poultry. Our aim at this meeting is to ensure that such issues do not distract from what we consider to be the TEC’s priorities: eliminating unnecessary regulation, promoting open markets and removing barriers to trade and investment.

The discussion may also touch upon transatlantic relations in general at Portuguese request. The Government support their view that the EU and US have common interests and challenges that must be addressed together, though we caution against attempts to dwell on or exaggerate past disagreements as counterproductive to this aim.