My honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Chris Bryant) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) was held on 26 and 27 October in Luxembourg. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and I represented the UK.

The agenda items covered were as follows:

General Affairs

The full text of conclusions adopted, including “A” points, can be found at http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/110776.pdf.

Preparation of the 29 and 30 October European Council

The October European Council agenda covered economic and financial issues, climate change and institutional issues.

On economic and financial issues, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary strongly supported the need for the European Council to deliver a message on jobs and growth.

On climate change, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary noted that, with Copenhagen only 40 days away, we needed to agree a strong EU position to maintain the international momentum in negotiations. In particular, we needed to give a credible range of figures on global public finance.

On institutional issues, the presidency and the Czech Republic briefed Ministers on the latest developments concerning the Lisbon treaty. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary noted that we were broadly content with the substance of the presidency's Lisbon treaty implementation report, but he stressed two points: first, that Governments needed time to consult their national parliaments on some of the decisions which would need to be taken to implement the Lisbon treaty; and secondly, that it must be clear, for the avoidance of doubt, that the UK and Ireland’s justice and home affairs opt-in protocol would apply both to old Third Pillar measures being re-presented as First Pillar measures, and to the decision on the establishment of the Committee on Internal Security (COSI). Ministers also broadly agreed guidelines for the European External Action Service (EAS) for approval at the European Council, but noted that full details of the EAS would be provided by the high representative for consultation once the treaty had entered into force.

Baltic Sea Strategy

Ministers adopted conclusions endorsing an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region, which the Government support.

AOB: Climate change

The presidency debriefed Ministers on the use of EU demarches to lobby 115 countries on climate change ahead of the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. The issue would also be discussed at EU summits with third countries, including those with the US, China and India, in the run-up to Copenhagen. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary supported these efforts and highlighted the publication in the UK of the 4 degree map, which looks at the implications across the board of a 4 degree temperature rise. It showed that climate change was a foreign policy issue with serious implications, including for security.

External Relations

The full text of all conclusions adopted can be found at http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/110805.pdf.

Iran

High Representative Solana briefed Ministers on latest developments on the nuclear issue. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary, with support from several member states, said that the EU needed to be ready to take action. He also gave an update on the detention and trial of a local member of British embassy staff.

Western Balkans

The presidency debriefed Ministers on the joint EU-US initiative to make progress on blocked reform priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Government fully support this initiative.

Afghanistan/Pakistan

The presidency introduced an action plan for enhancing EU engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which all Ministers welcomed. The Commission welcomed President Karzai's agreement to the second round of elections, which has since been cancelled. It hoped that the EU election observation mission (EOM) would have at least 100 observers and 150 support staff, but would welcome support locally.

The presidency and High Representative Solana both stressed the importance of getting the EUPOL police training mission up to full strength. The presidency challenged member states to increase their contribution before the next council.

I underscored the importance of a unified EU and broader international effort, going well beyond military engagement alone. The new EU strategy was robust but it needed firm action and resources behind it. I welcomed the Commission’s decision to organise the EOM for the second round; underscored the importance of a strong EU presence and offered UK support; and announced that the UK would deploy four more policemen to EUPOL from January 2010. I also offered the UK’s support to Spain in its preparations for the next EU-Pakistan summit in 2010.

Ministers adopted conclusions that welcomed the decision of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to hold a second round in the presidential elections; committed to redeploying the EOM to observe the second round; expressed concern about the security situation in Pakistan, while supporting the Government in their fight against terrorism; set out the main aspects of the EU action plan; and called for implementation of the plan without delay.

Middle East Peace Process

The presidency and High Representative Solana introduced a discussion of the MEPP which highlighted the importance of launching negotiations between the parties and the need for the EU to remain focused on its contribution to implementation of a future peace agreement.

Sri Lanka

The presidency and Commission expressed concern over the serious humanitarian situation. Member states shared this concern. I noted that while there had been some progress with increased numbers leaving the camps recently this needed to be sustained. Member states also expressed concern about the human rights situation in general, including freedom of the media.

The conclusions reflected these concerns and called on the Government of Sri Lanka to allow internally displaced persons to return to their homes as soon as possible and to allow improved access for humanitarian agencies.

AOB: Moldova

The presidency reported on the 15 and 16 October troika meeting with Moldova. Several member states supported a package of EU measures to the new Moldovan Government: financial assistance, pushing ahead with a dialogue on visas, moving ahead with negotiations on a deeper association agreement and a deep free trade deal. The Commission said that it was looking at macrofinancial assistance. The presidency concluded by welcoming these ideas. The Government support an ambitious programme of EU engagement and assistance with the new Government.

AOB: Somalia

This item was dropped from the agenda.

AOB: Freedom of Religion

Italy called for the EU to take a more consistent and active role in protecting religious freedom, and requested conclusions at the November GAERC. The presidency undertook to consider the request and revert.

EU-Indonesia

In the margins of the council my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary signed an EU partnership and co-operation agreement with Indonesia.

“A” Points

The council adopted conclusions or decisions, without discussion, on:

approval for signing the EU-Syria association agreement,

Uzbekistan: focused on human rights, but lifting the remaining EU sanctions (an arms embargo);

Guinea: imposing an arms embargo and travel ban on regime members in Conakry;

Great Lakes: focusing on humanitarian situation in the east;

Sahel: setting the EU's intention to develop a new strategy;

Yemen: adopting an EU action plan; and

Human rights dialogue with Indonesia.