COUNCIL OF

THE EN

14961/05 (Presse 318) PROVISIONAL VERSION

PRESS RELEASE

2701st Council Meeting

General Affairs and External Relations

External Relations

Brussels, 12 December 2005

President Mr Jack Straw Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom

* Some external relations items were adopted without debate at the 2700th meeting on General Affairs (14960/05).

PRESS

Rue de la Loi 175 B – 1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0)2 285 8239 / 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 285 8026 [email protected] http://ue.eu.int/Newsroom 14961/05 (Presse 318) 1 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

Main Results of the Council

The Council welcomed a report by HR Solana and Commissioner Rehn on the EU's future role and contribution in and asked them to continue to examine these issues, including in the areas of police and the rule of law.

The Council took note of a draft EU strategy, "the EU and Africa: towards a strategic partnership", to be adopted by the European Council on 15 and 16 December.

It expressed its grave concern about the tense and volatile situation in the Ethiopia/Eritrea border region and reaffirmed its commitment to see peace and security restored.

A number of external relations items were adopted without debate as part of the General Affairs session (see press release 14960/05).

14961/05 (Presse 318) 2 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

CONTENTS1

PARTICIPANTS...... 4

ITEMS DEBATED

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions...... 6

EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY...... 9

EU STRATEGY FOR AFRICA...... 10

ETHIOPIA/ERITREA - Council conclusions ...... 11

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

Please see General Affairs press release: 14960/05 Presse 317.

1 Ÿ Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks. Ÿ The documents whose references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site http://ue.eu.int. Ÿ Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the abovementioned Council Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 3 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

PARTICIPANTS

The Governments of the Member States and the were represented as follows:

Belgium: Mr Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Didier DONFUT State Secretary for European Affairs, attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Czech Republic: Mr Cyril SVOBODA Minister for Foreign Affairs Denmark: Mr Per Stig MØLLER Minister for Foreign Affairs Germany: Mr Frank-Walter STEINMEIER Minister for Foreign Affairs Estonia: Mr Urmas PAET Minister for Foreign Affairs Greece: Mr Petros MOLYVIATIS Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Ioannis VALINAKIS State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Spain: Mr Miguel Ángel MORATINOS CUYAUBÉ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr Alberto NAVARRO GONZÁLES State Secretary for the European Union France: Mr Philippe DOUSTE-BLAZY Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Catherine COLONNA Minister with responsibility for European Affairs Ireland: Mr Dermot AHERN Minister for Foreign Affairs Italy: Mr Gianfranco FINI Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Cyprus: Mr George IACOVOU Minister for Foreign Affairs Latvia: Mr Eduards STIPRAIS Permanent Representative Lithuania: Mr Antanas VALIONIS Minister for Foreign Affairs : Mr Jean ASSELBORN Deputy Prime Minister, Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Hungary: Mr Ferenc SOMOGYI Minister for Foreign Affairs Malta: Mr Michael FRENDO Minister for Foreign Affairs Netherlands: Mr Bernard BOT Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Atzo NICOLAÏ Minister for European Affairs Austria: Ms Ursula PLASSNIK Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs

14961/05 (Presse 318) 4 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

Poland: Mr Stefan MELLER Minister for Foreign Affairs Portugal: Mr Fernando DE OLIVEIRA NEVES State Secretary for European Affairs Slovenia: Mr Dimitrij RUPEL Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Marcel KOPROL State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister Slovakia: Mr Eduard KUKAN Minister for Foreign Affairs Finland: Mr Eikka KOSONEN Permanent Representative Sweden: Ms Laila FREIVALDS Minister for Foreign Affairs United Kingdom: Mr Jack STRAW Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Mr Douglas ALEXANDER Minister of State for Europe

Commission: Ms Benita FERRERO-WALDNER Member Mr Member Mr Member

General Secretariat of the Council: Mr Javier SOLANA Secretary-General/High Representative for the CFSP

The Governments of the Acceding States were represented as follows:

Bulgaria: Mr Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Minister for European Affairs Romania: Mr Mihai-Razvan UNGUREANU Minister for Foreign Affairs-

14961/05 (Presse 318) 5 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

ITEMS DEBATED

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions

The Council discussed the situation in the Western Balkans and relations between the EU and the countries of this region and adopted the following conclusions:

"Western Balkans

1. The Council welcomed the Commission’s Progress Reports covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and Kosovo as defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

2. The Council drew encouragement from the region’s recent progress that the EU’s policies, based primarily on the fair and rigorous use of conditionality and a clear European perspective, were proving effective. To further support this progress the Council agreed the new European Partnerships, which identify, update and prioritise the reform agenda for each country. The Council strongly encouraged each country to respond to its European Partnership by preparing a national action plan, including not only legislative but also budgetary and administrative planning, to implement the identified priorities. The European Partnerships will continue to be a key tool for guiding countries' efforts to move closer to the EU.

3. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the Thessaloniki agenda, which emphasises that the future of the Western Balkans, as potential candidate countries, lies in the European Union. The Council reiterated that each country’s progress towards the EU would depend on how quickly it conforms to the Copenhagen criteria, which include, inter-alia, respect for and protection of minorities, and the requirements of the Stabilisation and Association process, including full co-operation with the ICTY. In this context it welcomed and held a preliminary exchange of views on the road map for the European perspective of the Western Balkans countries contained in the Commission’s Enlargement Strategy Paper, which proposes conditions to be met in order to reach each stage of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

4. The Council took note of the recent reports by the ICTY President and Chief Prosecutor to the UN Security Council. The Council reiterated that full co-operation with the ICTY is essential to achieve lasting reconciliation in the region and to lift a fundamental obstacle to EU integration. In this context it warmly welcomed the recent arrest of Ante Gotovina and congratulated the ICTY, and the Croatian and the Spanish authorities for their work in bringing it about. It urged Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to build on this positive development and take decisive action to ensure that all remaining fugitive indictees, notably Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, are finally brought to justice.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 6 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

Albania

5. The Council welcomed progress in Albania, and noted the Commission’s judgement that this paves the way for concluding negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association agreement. The Council called on Albania to carry forward its reform agenda and in particular to intensify efforts in a number of key areas, including concrete results in the fight against organised crime and corruption, clear improvements in media freedom, and further strengthening of public sector governance. The Council noted that the July 2005 parliamentary elections marked some progress in the conduct of elections but stressed that implementation of the recommendations in the OSCE/ODIHR report of 8 November was necessary to address the outstanding shortcomings.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

6. The Council welcomed the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2005, which marked an historic moment in the country’s development. To maintain this momentum, the Council urged further progress in particular in development of the legislative framework and administrative capacity, implementation of police reform, adoption and implementation of all necessary Public Broadcasting legislation, and full co-operation with the ICTY.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

7. The Council noted that the Commission's Opinion on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's application for EU membership replaced the normal Progress Report. The Opinion will be considered by the European Council.

Serbia and Montenegro

8. The Council welcomed the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association agreement with Serbia and Montenegro in October 2005, which was a reflection of the reform progress the country had made. To build on this dynamic, the Council stressed the need for further efforts, in particular in the development of the legislative framework and administrative capacity, the effective implementation of the constitutional charter, and full co-operation with the ICTY.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 7 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

Serbia and Montenegro / Kosovo

9. The Council reiterated its full support for the political process to determine Kosovo’s future status and for Mr Martti Ahtisaari, the UN Status Envoy. It also reiterated its determination to participate fully in the definition of the status of Kosovo and its readiness to be closely involved in the negotiations and implementation of Kosovo’s future status, through the EU representative Mr Stefan Lehne. The Council stressed again the paramount importance of the ongoing implementation of Standards now and in the future to help progress towards European standards. In particular, the Provisional Institutions of Self- Government need to make further progress on protection of minorities, full respect for the rule of law, a transparent public administration free from political interference, a climate conducive to returns, and the protection of cultural and religious sites.

10. The Council welcomed the joint report by the SG/HR and the Commission on the EU's future role and contribution in Kosovo. It asked the SG/HR and the Commission to continue examination of these issues in coordination with other international actors, particularly in the areas of police and the rule of law (including contingency planning for a possible ESDP mission), economic development and fostering Kosovo's European perspective, and to keep the relevant Council bodies actively engaged in order to ensure continuing timely preparation of an EU role in Kosovo."

*

* *

Over lunch, Ministers discussed the succession of Lord Ashdown as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision on the succession is due to be taken at a meeting of the Peace Implementation Council on 14 December.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 8 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY

The Council heard a presentation by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the first year of implementation of the first seven European neighbourhood policy (ENP) action plans (with Ukraine, Moldova, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia) and an update on negotiations for five more action plans (with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia and Lebanon). The Commissioner also set out priorities for ENP for 2006.

ENP is aimed at building a zone of increasing prosperity, stability and security in the EU’s neighbourhood, in the interests of both the neighbouring countries and of the EU itself.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 9 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

EU STRATEGY FOR AFRICA

The Council took note of a draft EU strategy, "the EU and Africa: towards a strategic partnership", to be adopted by the European Council on 15 and 16 December.

The aim of the strategy is to strengthen the EU's contribution to reducing poverty and enabling the achievement of the UN's millennium development goals in Africa over the 2005-15 period, together with African partners, and to ensure that policies are in line with their needs and priorities. The strategy is equally aimed at enhancing the EU's political dialogue and broader relationship with Africa and its institutions, and the holding of the second EU-Africa summit as soon as possible.

The document examines the following issues: peace and security; development assistance; human rights and governance; sustainable economic growth; regional integration and trade; investing in people.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 10 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

ETHIOPIA/ERITREA - Council conclusions

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1. The Council expressed its grave concern about the tense and volatile situation in the border region and reaffirmed its commitment to see peace and security restored.

2. The Council reiterated its full support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640(2005), which, inter alia, demands that Eritrea immediately reverse the decision to ban UNMEE helicopter flights and all other restrictions imposed on UNMEE, that both parties return to the 16 December 2004 levels of deployment of their troops, and that Ethiopia accept fully the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission.

3. The Council expressed its concern at Eritrea's request that the European and North American members of UNMEE should be withdrawn. The Council supported the UN's demand that the Eritrean government immediately and unequivocally rescind its decision without preconditions.

4. The Council underlined the urgent need for immediate concrete steps to be taken by Ethiopia to enable the Ethiopia Eritrea Boundary Commission to demarcate the border completely and without delay. The start of the demarcation process has to be accepted promptly by both parties in a constructive spirit in order to bring to an end current tension.

5. The Council also called upon both countries to refrain from any threat or use of force against each other and, to contribute to de-escalation, to redirect funds that are used for military expenditure towards development.

6. The Council agreed on the need for continued international diplomatic engagement on Ethiopia / Eritrea. In this regard, the Council welcomed the proposed EU troika visit to Addis Ababa and Asmara. The Council further expressed its support for the United Nations Security Council's determination to consider further appropriate measures, including under Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations, if one or both parties fail to comply with the demands to return to 16 December 2004 levels of deployment within 30 days of the adoption of Resolution 1640(2005), or if Eritrea fails to reverse the ban on UNMEE helicopter flights and additional restrictions.

7. The Council reiterated that the EU would keep the situation in the border region under constant review."

14961/05 (Presse 318) 11 EN PROVISIONAL VERSION 12.XII.2005

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

Please see General Affairs press release: 14960/05 Presse 317.

14961/05 (Presse 318) 12 EN