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EPLO CONFLICT PREVENTION NEWSLETTER VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 – DECEMBER 2013 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pages 1-3: – EU Update Page 9: – Job Vacancies and Internships – Training Courses Page 3: – Upcoming EU Events – Publications – Upcoming Civil Society Events Page 10: – Civil Society Dialogue Network Pages 4-8: – EU Press Releases – The EU and Peacebuilding: From Peace Project to Global Actor EU UPDATE Council of the EU general principles for the participation of Jordan in EU pro- The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) met on 18-19 November, 12 grammes December and 16 December in Brussels. adopted the EU priorities for co-operation with the Council of On 18-19 November, EU foreign ministers adopted conclu- Europe in 2014-2015 sions on Libya, Syria and Tunisia. They also: agreed to support the activities of the World Health Organisa- took stock of preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit tion (WHO) in the area of biosafety and biosecurity, in the (28-29 November, Vilnius) framework of the EU strategy against the proliferation of took stock of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina weapons of mass destruction received a briefing on the state of play of preparations for the established the EU position for the 12th meeting of the EU- 16th EU-China summit (21 November, Beijing) Kyrgyz Republic Cooperation Council (21 November, Brus- exchanged views on the latest developments in Egypt sels) debated migration issues On 3 and 6 December, they adopted conclusions on the ninth exchanged views on the Common Security and Defence Poli- World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference. cy (CSDP) (see below) reached agreement on setting the 2014 budget of the Europe- On 12 December, EU foreign and development ministers adopted an Defence Agency (EDA) at € 30.5 million conclusions on policy coherence for development, financing pov- decided to sign and conclude an agreement enabling the Re- erty eradication and sustainable development beyond 2015, the public of Chile to participate in EU crisis management opera- 2013 annual report on the EU’s development and external assis- tions tance policies and their implementation in 2012, and EU support agreed to sign and conclude an agreement establishing a for democratic governance. They also: framework for the participation of Georgia in EU crisis man- exchanged views on how best to support lasting peace and agement operations development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and noted the report by the Head of the EDA the Great Lakes region took note of the single progress report on the development of adopted transitional management measures for the European EU military capabilities November 2012 – October 2013 Development Fund (EDF) endorsed a note on EU rapid-response capabilities and EU approved a letter to the President of the Republic of Guinea battlegroups announcing the full resumption of development co-operation approved the exercise specifications for the 2014 EU crisis between the EU and the Republic of Guinea management exercise (MILEX 14) adopted a partial general approach on the decision establish- approved the conclusion of a protocol to the Association ing the European Year of Development 2015. Agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) Tel.: +32 (0)2 233 37 37 Rue Belliard / Belliardstraat 205, Box 12 Fax: +32 (0)2 233 37 38 1040 Brussels E-mail: [email protected] Belgium Website: www.eplo.org EPLO CONFLICT PREVENTION NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 PAGE 1 EU UPDATE (CONTINUED) On 16 December, EU foreign ministers adopted conclusions on the CSDP (see below) and migration flows. They also welcomed the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and endorsed the conclusions adopted by the GAC on enlarge- and the Great Lakes region, Lebanon, Myanmar and the Middle ment and the stabilisation and association process, and wel- East peace process. They also: comed the successful outcome of the ninth WTO ministerial con- received a briefing on the latest round of talks with Iran on its ference. nuclear programme (20-24 November, Geneva) Click here to read the European Council conclusions. debated the latest developments in the Syrian crisis discussed the follow-up to the Eastern Partnership summit took stock of relations with Russia Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) On 18-19 November, EU foreign ministers exchanged views on took stock of recent developments in the Western Balkans the CSDP. They discussed preparations for the December Euro- and discussed foreign policy aspects of the European Com- pean Council and took stock of the EU's current military opera- mission’s (EC) 2013 enlargement package regarding the re- tions: the EU's anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden and off gion the coast of Somalia (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) and the EU training adopted the EU's position for the 11th EU-Morocco Associa- mission in Mali (EUTM Mali). tion Council (16 December, Brussels) On 25 November, the Council of the EU adopted conclusions approved the EU’s position within the EU-Morocco Associa- on CSDP: (1) increasing the effectiveness, visibility and impact of tion Council with regard to the adoption of a recommendation CSDP, (2) enhancing the development of capabilities, and (3) on the implementation of the EU-Morocco Action Plan imple- strengthening defence industry. menting the advanced status (2013–2017) On 17 December, the EU's Political and Security Committee agreed on EU activities in support of the implementation of (PSC) approved the appointment of General Massimo Mingiardi the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), including the allocation of € 5.2 (Italy) as the new mission commander for the EU training mission million from the EU budget for projects that aim to support in Somalia (EUTM Somalia). states to strengthen their arms transfer control systems with a On 19-20 December, the European Council adopted conclu- view to being able to implement the ATT as well as to in- sions on the CSDP: (1) increasing the effectiveness, visibility and crease awareness and ownership of the ATT by relevant na- impact of CSDP; (2) enhancing the development of capabilities; tional and regional authorities and civil society stakeholders (3) strengthening Europe's defence industry; and (4) the way authorised the High Representative to open negotiations in forward. order to amend the existing agreement between Australia and Click here to read the Council conclusions about the CSDP, here to read the press the EU on the security of classified information release about EUTM Somalia and here to read the latest issue of EU Security and Defence News. took note of the 15th annual report in accordance with Coun- cil Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equip- European Commission (EC) ment. On 26 November, the EC published a communication on a European terrorist finance tracking system (EU TFTS). The General Affairs Council (GAC) met on 19 November and 17 On 28 November, the EC published a report on the European December in Brussels. Investment Bank’s (EIB) external activity with EU budgetary guar- In November, EU foreign and European ministers took note of antee in 2012. the EC work programme for 2014, examined a draft annotated Also on 28 November 2013, the EC and the EEAS published agenda for the next European Council meeting (19-20 Decem- a joint proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation ber, Brussels) and took note of the presidency report on the im- (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the plementation of European Council conclusions. situation in Syria. In December, they adopted conclusions on the review of the On 4 December, the EC and the EEAS published a joint pro- European External Action Service (EEAS) and the enlargement posal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EU) No strategy and main challenges 2013-2014. They also: 204/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation examined draft conclusions for the next European Council in Libya. meeting On 5 December, the EC published a proposal for a decision adopted the general EU position for the opening of accession of the European Parliament and of the Council providing macro- negotiations with Serbia financial assistance to the Republic of Tunisia. confirmed the agreement on the Joint Declaration establish- On 6 December, the EC published proposals for Council deci- ing a Mobility Partnership between the Hashemite Kingdom of sions on the signing, provisional application and conclusion of a Jordan and the EU and its participating Member States. protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one Click here to read the FAC conclusions from 18-19 November, here to read the FAC conclusions from 3 and 6 December, here to read the FAC conclusions from 12 part, and the Republic of Azerbaijan, of the other part, on a December, here to read the FAC conclusions from 16 December, here to read the Framework Agreement between the EU and the Republic of GAC conclusions from 19 November, and here to read the GAC conclusions from Azerbaijan on the general principles for the participation of the 17 December. Republic of Azerbaijan in EU programmes. On 11 December, the EC and the EEAS published a joint communication on the EU's comprehensive approach to external European Council conflict and crises. The European Council met on 19-20 December in Brussels. On 12 December, the EC published a proposal for a Council EU heads of state and government adopted conclusions on regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 617/2007 on the Central African Republic, Syria, the Eastern Partnership, the implementation of the tenth EDF under the ACP-EC EPLO CONFLICT PREVENTION NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 PAGE 2 EU UPDATE (CONTINUED) Partnership Agreement for the implementation of the Bridging In December, they adopted resolutions on the development of Facility.
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