Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written statement – made at on 10 May 2007.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will be held on 14 and
The agenda items are as follows:
Foreign Ministers
General Affairs
Preparation of the European Council on 21-
The Council will discuss the presidency's draft annotated agenda for the 21-
External Relations
The Commission is expected to update the Council on its latest contacts on the WTO/Doha round.
Sudan
The Council is expected to discuss recent developments in Sudan. Although the Government of Sudan have accepted the second phase of the UN support for the African Union peacekeeping force, they have yet to accept the third phase, a hybrid African Union/UN force. The conclusions of the April GAERC maintain EU pressure on Khartoum to accept the full African Union/UN peacekeeping force as well as the ceasefire and reinvigorated political process agreed in Addis Ababa last November.
The Government are also urging EU and other international partners to address the gaps in funding for the African Union mission in Sudan.
Somalia
The Government welcome EU action in the region in support of the African Union mission to Somalia and the proposed Reconciliation Congress. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions stressing the importance of implementing UNSCR 1744 to address the political, security and humanitarian challenges in Somalia.
Preparation of the EU-Russia Summit
The Council is expected to discuss EU-Russia relations and preparations for the EU-Russia summit in Samara on 17 and
Black Sea Region
Romania has asked to discuss the Black Sea region. The Government broadly support the Commission's Black Sea strategy, which gives an overview of the policy challenges in the region, the EU's approach to the region and proposes co-operation with regional organisations.
Iran
The High-Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana is expected to brief the Council on his recent meeting with Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on
Iraq
The presidency is expected to update the Council on the Iraq neighbours conference and the launch of the international compact in Sharm el-Sheikh on 3-
Arab League Initiative
Malta has asked to discuss engagement with the Arab League on regional issues. The Government support the presidency's proposal to organise an EU troika meeting with representatives from the Arab League in Berlin in the coming months.
Middle East Peace Process
The Council is expected to discuss the Quartet's meeting with the Arab League on
We expect the Council to discuss Kosovo and Serbia.
The February Council conclusions set out the EU's support for former President Ahtisaari's proposals on Kosovo's status and make the restart of stabilisation and association agreement talks with Serbia conditional upon concrete action by a new Serb Government on co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The Government fully support this position.
The Council is expected to adopt conclusions welcoming the establishment of the regional co-operation council. If a Government is formed in Belgrade, the Council may also adopt conclusions on Serbia.
International Moratorium on the Death Penalty
Italy has asked to discuss EU action to promote a global moratorium and eventual abolition of the death penalty. The Government fully support work towards this important EU objective.
Joint Session of Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) Mission in Kosovo
We expect the Council to discuss co-ordination arrangements between the head of the planned ESDP mission and the EU special representative in Kosovo as well as coordination between the EU and NATO. The Government will want to reiterate the importance of continued EU unity on the Kosovo final status process as expressed in the conclusions of the February GAERC.
European Security and Defence Policy Mission in Afghanistan
The Council is expected to discuss a civilian European Security and Defence Policy mission to Afghanistan in policing with links to the wider rule of law. This is likely to be launched in Kabul on
Security Sector Reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Council is expected to discuss progress on security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Much of the Government's support in this sector is channelled through the EU security sector reform advisory mission (EUSEC Congo) and the EU police mission to Kinshasa (EUPOL Kinshasa). With the formation of a new Government, the EU is seeking to modify the mandates of the two missions to ensure that support is in line with the needs of the Congolese. The Government hope that in the future the two missions will combine to look at the security sector as a whole.
Defence Ministers
Operations
Military aspects of EU/UN Co-operation
The presidency is expected to report on the outcome of a seminar on "Military Aspects of EU/UN Co-operation in Crisis Management, in the Light of EUFOR RD Congo" (the EU military mission which provided support to the UN during the 2006 election period in the Democratic Republic of Congo). The Council is expected to adopt conclusions expressing the EU's commitment to further strengthening co-operation with the UN. The Government support this commitment. Improving the EU's ability to cooperate with key international organisations, including the UN, is key to achieving the effective multilateral system, referred to in the European security strategy, for dealing with crises on a global basis.
Lessons Learned from EUFOR RD Congo
The Council is expected to discuss the lessons learned from EUFOR RD Congo. The Government support ongoing work to address the lessons learnt and believe this process will be a valuable contribution leading to improvements in future mission planning.
Western Balkans
High-Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana is expected to brief the Council on the ongoing reconfiguration of EUFOR ALTHEA, the EU military mission in Bosnia. The Government are pleased that the improved security situation has allowed the EU to reduce its level of forces, reflecting the considerable achievements of the international community in Bosnia.
AMIS (Sudan/Darfur)
The Council is expected to discuss the situation in Sudan/Darfur, and to adopt conclusions reaffirming support for the African Union mission in Sudan and underlining the urgency of transition to a full African Union/UN hybrid mission.
The head of the agency will present his report to the Council on the agency's activities in the previous and current year. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions noting the report and welcoming progress made. The Government support the work done by the agency over the reporting period.
The Council is expected to discuss ongoing work on a possible revision of the EU military rapid response concept, based on a tri-presidency (Germany, Portugal, Slovenia) "Food for Thought" paper. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions noting that the Battlegroups initiative has achieved full operational capability from
Headline Goal Process
The presidency is expected to update the Council on progress made on the headline goal process to strengthen European defence capabilities. The Government strongly support this work. Improving military capabilities of EU member states is a key objective of the European security and defence policy, and we welcome progress in the work conducted by the EU military staff and headline goal taskforce.
Capability Development Plan
The European Defence Agency will update the Council on progress on the capability development plan. The Government believe this is important work, which has the potential to provide the necessary link between the EU planning process and long-term capability work being conducted by the European Defence Agency.
Progress Report
The presidency will submit a report to the Council, setting out the progress made on military capability development over the last six months. The Council is expected to note this in the conclusions.
Development Ministers
Aid for Trade and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
The Council is expected to discuss a communication on a future Joint Commission/member states' strategy for delivering effective aid for trade commitments. The strategy will include a roadmap for the delivery of the Commission's and member states' commitments to each increase trade related assistance to €1 billion by 2010 (€2 billion in total). The Council will also be invited to discuss progress in negotiations on economic partnership agreements (EPAs). The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions. The Government will be urging donors to empower developing countries to demand increased aid for trade and will work to ensure that the EU market access offer is not diluted.
Complementarity and Division of Labour
The Council is expected to discuss aid effectiveness, and adopt conclusions on a voluntary code of conduct to promote complementarity and improved division of labour arrangements between member states and the Commission. The Government welcome the code of conduct but stress the need for arrangements to be flexible and practice-orientated.
Implementation of the Monterrey commitments
The Council is expected to review the implementation of commitments on financing for development (Monterrey), including monitoring the increase of both Community and member states' official development assistance (ODA). The Government are keen that the Council promotes the use of national timetables to achieve ODA targets.
Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries-EU Cooperation
The presidency is expected to brief the Council on progress on the EU-Africa strategy and adopt conclusions establishing a new EU-Africa energy partnership at the EU-Africa summit in December 2007. The Council is also expected to approve the agenda and Council positions for the EC-ACP Council of Ministers meeting on
Madagascar Action Plan
The Government of Madagascar have recently completed a poverty-reduction strategy—the Madagascar action plan. There will be a discussion of lessons learned.
Afghanistan
The German Development Minister is expected to update the Council on her recent visit to Afghanistan. The UN special representative for Afghanistan and the Afghan Finance Minster are expected to be present for the discussion. The Government welcome the focus on development support for Afghanistan.