Significant progress made preparing issues for European Council
One of the main points on the agenda at today’s General Affairs Council was the task of preparing for the European Council on 8/9 March. At this meeting, the EU Foreign Ministers focused particularly on the Lisbon Strategy and climate protection. With regard to the latter, they discussed an integrated action plan which is to include measures to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewables in a move to cut CO2 emissions drastically. Federal Minister Steinmeier said that it had been possible to reduce the number of outstanding issues significantly during today’s preparations for the European Council.
The Middle East, Iran, Sudan, Uzbekistan and the Western Balkans were all on the agenda of the External Relations part of today’s meeting.
EU Foreign Ministers welcome encouraging signs in Middle East
The Council expressed its satisfaction at the resumption of the Middle East Quartet talks in Berlin at the end of February. Despite regret that the Palestinians had not yet been able to form a government of national unity, the progress made so far was welcomed. The European Union continues to support the parties’ efforts and is encouraged by the fact that the next meeting of the Middle East Quartet will be held in the region.
EU still willing to talk with Iran
“Tehran has still not given any sign that it is willing to cooperate,” said Federal Minister Steinmeier, who is also President of the Council. Now that the Director General of IAEO, Mohamed El-Baradei, had established Iran’s non-compliance, the permanent members of the UN Security Council were deliberating whether the Security Council would continue to deal with this issue with a view to possibly proposing another resolution. Steinmeier emphasized, however, that the offer made to Tehran of resuming negotiations still stood.
Security situation in Sudan has worsened
The Council expressed its concern at the worsening of the security situation in Sudan and the spread of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. “The situation remains bad, indeed it has escalated after the air strikes in January and February,” Steinmeier stated. The Council condemned the ongoing attacks on humanitarian workers and the violations of the ceasefire which had only recently resulted in yet more civilian deaths. It was agreed that the Sudanese Government must act to facilitate the work of the UN organizations and the NGOs. The Council supported the Security Council’s examination of further measures under UN Resolution 1591 to prevent any kind of hindrance to the peace process.
The Council strongly deplored the lack of cooperation shown to the high-level UN Human Rights Council by the Sudanese Government. It welcomed, however, the progress made by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in his investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The Foreign Ministers concluded that some initial progress had been made in securing funding for the AMIS mission. More than 400 million € had been made available through the Peace Facility for Africa and through bilateral contributions from Member States. Until a decision was adopted by the group of ACP States, the EU would allocate additional financial support from the 9th European Development Fund for the AMIS mission. Other international partners, such as the Arab League countries, would now also be expected to make a contribution. Germany had promised a substantial amount, and other EU Member States had expressed their willingness to make additional voluntary funding available.
EU expects concessions from Uzbekistan
With regard to Uzbekistan, Federal Minister Steinmeier stated that, now that sanctions had been imposed, the EU was exploring the possibility of cooperation on the international community level. Three issues were currently being discussed with the Uzbek Government, he explained. The Uzbek Government was expected to make concessions on the issues of granting the International Red Cross access to prisons in Uzbekistan, starting a dialogue on human rights with the European Union, and continuing with experts meetings between representatives of the EU and the Uzbek Government. These conditions would have to be met before the EU would discuss the possibility of intensifying cooperation with Uzbekistan.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Office of High Representative still necessary
The Foreign Ministers welcomed the fact that a government had been formed successfully in Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, Foreign Minister Steinmeier reiterated that the ongoing reforms of the police service and constitution should not be forgotten. “The situation is not calm enough or cooperative enough for us to give up the Office of the High Representative so soon,” said Steinmeier. He explained that this Office would be needed “for at least another year”.
