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COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION EN C/04/250 Brussels, 13 September 2004 12067/04 (Presse 250) Press release 2603rd Council meeting General Affairs and External Relations General Affairs Brussels, 13 September 2004 President Mr Bernard BOT Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands * The 2604th meeting on External Relations is the subject of a separate press release (12068/04). PRESS Rue de la Loi 175 B – 1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0)2 285 6083 / 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 285 8026 [email protected] http://ue.eu.int/Newsroom 12067/04 (Presse 250) 1 EN Main results of the Council The Council held a policy debate on the proposed EU financial framework for the 2007-13 period, endorsing the methodology proposed by the Presidency for work on the dossier until the end of the year with the aim of enabling agreement to be reached during 2005. The Council also took a number of decisions without debate, including: - the EU 2004 Annual Report on Human Rights; - conclusions on progress in planning operation "ALTHEA" in Bosnia and Herzegovina; - a list of the 24 persons it intends to appoint as Members of the Commission for the 2004- 2009 period. 12067/04 (Presse 250) 2 EN CONTENTS1 PARTICIPANTS 5 ITEMS DEBATED EU FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FOR 2007-13 7 OTHER ITEMS APPROVED EXTERNAL RELATIONS Partnership with Croatia - principles, priorities and conditions 8 Association Agreement with Bulgaria - Public aid in the steel sector 8 EU Annual Report on Human Rights - 2004 8 TRADE POLICY Textiles - Vietnam - EU Enlargement 8 India, Taiwan, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and South Africa-Iron flat rolled products * 8 India - Anti-dumping - Graphite electrode systems 9 DEVELOPMENT South Africa - Development cooperation 9 EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY Military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Council conclusions 9 EU ESDP training concept 9 Participation of third states in ESDP operations 10 Rule of Law mission in Georgia - Financial reference amount * 10 European Defence Agency - Staff provisions and budget 10 INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS / APPOINTMENTS Commission 10 12067/04 (Presse 250) 3 EN Committee of the Regions 12 GENERAL AFFAIRS Work in the various Council configurations 12 ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS External auditors - Banca d'Italia 12 AGRICULTURE Malta - Pet control and rabies - EU Enlargement 12 ENVIRONMENT Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions–Linking Kyoto mechanisms with Community scheme* 12 DECISIONS TAKEN BY WRITTEN PROCEDURE Iraq - Restrictions on economic and financial relations 13 Australia, China and Pakistan - Anti-dumping - polyethylene terephthalate 13 Thailand - Anti-dumping - pipe fittings 13 12067/04 (Presse 250) 4 EN PARTICIPANTS The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows: Belgium: Mr Karel DE GUCHT Minister for Foreign Affairs Czech Republic: Mr Vladimír MÜLLER Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for EU Affairs Denmark: Mr Carsten SØNDERGAARD State Secretary Germany: Mr Hans Martin BURY Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Estonia: Ms Kristiina OJULAND Minister for Foreign Affairs Greece: Mr Petros MOLYVIATIS Minister for Foreign Affairs Spain: Mr Miguel Angel MORATINOS Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation France: Mr Michel BARNIER Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland: Mr Brian COWEN Minister for Foreign Affairs Italy: Mr Roberto ANTONIONE State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Cyprus: Mr George IACOVOU Minister for Foreign Affairs Latvia: Mr Rihards PĪKS Minister for Foreign Affairs Lithuania: Mr Antanas VALIONIS Minister for Foreign Affairs Luxembourg: Mr Nicolas SCHMIT Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Hungary: Mr László KOVÁCS Minister for Foreign Affairs Malta: Mr Michael FRENDO Minister of Foreign Affairs Netherlands: Mr Bernard BOT Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Atzo NICOLAÏ Minister for European Affairs Austria: Ms Benita FERRERO-WALDNER Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Poland: Mr Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ Minister for Foreign Affairs Portugal: Mr António MONTEIRO Minister for Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities Abroad 12067/04 (Presse 250) 5 EN Slovenia: Mr Ivo VAJGL Minister for Foreign Affairs Slovakia: Mr Eduard KUKAN Minister for Foreign Affairs Finland: Mr Erkki TUOMIOJA Minister for Foreign Affairs Sweden: Ms Laila FREIVALDS Minister for Foreign Affairs United Kingdom: Mr Jack STRAW Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Commission: Mr Chris PATTEN Member Ms Michele SCHREYER Member General Secretariat of the Council Mr Pierre DE BOISSIEU Deputy Secretary-General 12067/04 (Presse 250) 6 EN ITEMS DEBATED EU FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FOR 2007-13 The Council held a policy debate on the proposed EU financial framework for the 2007-13 period, focusing on a number of general themes such as the added value of EU spending, budgetary flexibility and the structure of the Commission's proposals. It endorsed the methodology proposed by the Presidency for work on the Commission's proposals - the so-called building block approach - focusing on the various expenditure headings and sub- headings and the amount of resources they entail, whilst noting that the Commission proposals remain the basis for the Council's work. The Commission proposed in July a first set of detailed proposals for some of the EU's key policy areas and is due to approve further proposals on 29 September. The Presidency's aim, in accordance with the timeframe envisaged in the Council's Multi-annual Strategic Programme, is to make it possible for the European Council to reach decisions at its meeting on 17 December on principles and guidelines in respect of the new financial perspective. The agreed principles and guidelines will serve as a framework for further work aimed at achieving political agreement next year. The Council in its General Affairs configuration, as the preparatory body for the European Council, will have responsibility for the conduct of work on the financial framework. Discussion in other Council configurations will not prejudge the outcome of that debate, though the particular interest of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council is recognised. The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) will have responsibility for preparing the Council's deliberations, including preparation of a draft report to enable the Council to prepare the European Council's work in December. An ad hoc group will be set up with a precise remit to carry out preparatory work for Coreper, on the basis of an indicative work programme. 12067/04 (Presse 250) 7 EN OTHER ITEMS APPROVED EXTERNAL RELATIONS Partnership with Croatia - principles, priorities and conditions The Council adopted a Decision on the principles, priorities and conditions to be followed in the EU's "European Partnership" with Croatia, with a view to supporting Croatia's efforts to move closer to the European Union (9376/04). The priorities are adapted to Croatia's specific needs and state of preparation covering, inter alia, the judicial system, the fight against corruption, respect for minorities and full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The European Partnership also provides guidance for financial assistance to Croatia. The European Partnerships are aimed at strengthening the EU's relations with the countries of the Western Balkans under the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), as requested by the European Council and the EU-Western Balkans Summit at Thessaloniki in June 2003. Partnerships are being drawn up for each SAP country, along the lines of the Accession Partnerships that were established for the candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe prior to their negotiations on accession to the EU. Association Agreement with Bulgaria - Public aid in the steel sector The Council adopted a draft Decision, to be forwarded to the EU-Bulgaria Association Council for adoption, aimed at extending the grace period for public aid in the steel sector provided for by the EU-Bulgaria Association Agreement (1901/04). EU Annual Report on Human Rights - 2004 The Council approved the EU's 2004 Annual Report on Human Rights (11922/1/04 REV 1). The report, which will be used in dialogue with parliaments and civil society, gives an overview of EU policies in the field of human rights, the policies that the EU has adopted to ensure the protection of human rights within the European Union itself and EU actions regarding third countries through multilateral fora as well as on a bilateral basis. TRADE POLICY Textiles - Vietnam - EU Enlargement The Council adopted a Regulation amending Regulation 3030/93 adjusting the quantitative limits for imports of certain textile products from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in order to take into account the accession of the new Member States to the Community (11377/04). India, Taiwan, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and South Africa-Iron flat rolled products * The Council adopted a Regulation terminating anti-dumping proceedings concerning imports of certain flat rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel originating in India, Taiwan as well as Serbia and Montenegro (11871/04). It also adopted a Regulation terminating anti-dumping proceedings concerning imports of certain flat rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel originating in Bulgaria and South Africa (11872/04). 12067/04 (Presse 250) 8 EN India - Anti-dumping - Graphite electrode systems The Council adopted two Regulations imposing anti-dumping duties on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in India