General Affairs Council

The Council will start at 10h30 on Monday, it will be preceded at 9h00 by a meeting with a delegation from FYROM (to be followed by a press conference). External relations points will be taken first, followed by the so-called Horizontal issues. Over lunch Ministers are expected to discuss the Middle East and certain aspects concerning Western Balkans. Mary ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will join Ministers over coffee for a briefing on the upcoming UN Conference on Racism.

A detailed programme of events scheduled on the margins of the Council is to be found at the end of this note.

Western Balkans

The Council will discuss the situation in the FYROM. Latest news from Skopje indicate that there is a breakdown in the negotiations between political leaders on President TRAJKOVSKI's Peace Plan. Depending on the resumption/outcome of the inter-ethnic dialogue the EU Troika is expected to meet, on Monday morning (9h00), with President TRAJKOVSKI and/or Prime Minister GEORGIEVSKI (and possibly other party political leaders).

SG/HR SOLANA will have meetings with Government and political leaders in Skopje today (21 June) and again (following his visit to the Middle East on 22 June) during the weekend (23-24 June). The aim of this visit is to support the search for a political solution through facilitation of the enhanced dialogue already underway among political parties.

Discussions on the appointment, for a limited period, of an EU Representative resident in Skopje and under the authority of SG/HR SOLANA, as foreseen in the Göteborg European Council Declaration on FYROM, will take place over lunch, as well as the possibility of a regional conference, as discussed at the informal meeting in Nyköping.

The Council will also discuss other aspects of the situation in the Balkans and is expected to reach conclusions covering, in addition to FYROM, the following items :

- FRY Donors Conference scheduled to take place on 29 June in Brussels,
- the outcome of proceedings in the FRY Federal Parliament concerning the law on cooperation with ICTY,
- the first round of elections in Albania,
- the prolongation for another year of the mandate of High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina Wolfgang PETRITSCH,
- the outcome of proceedings on the new election law in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
- the third meeting of the Regional Table of the Stability Pact on 28 June in Brussels.

Middle East

Over lunch Ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, notably in the light of the report of SG/HR SOLANA on his latest trip to the region on Friday 22 June during which he will meet Prime Minister SHARON and Chairman ARAFAT. This visit follows the invitation made to the SG/HR by the Göteborg European Council to pursue his efforts in the region.

Zimbabwe

The Council will address the situation in Zimbabwe and is expected to note the lack of substantial progress in the ongoing political dialogue with the Government.

Against the background of deep concern over recent development in Zimbabwe, the Council may indicate its further priorities for the dialogue and the results to be achieved: end of violence and of official encouragement of such, invitation to the EU to support and observe coming elections, protection of freedom of media, independence of judiciary and respect of its decisions, end illegal occupation of properties.

The Council is also expected to indicate its intention to closely monitor developments in the country over the next two months and to take appropriate measures if substantial progress has not been made.

West Africa

The discussion among ministers is expected to result in Council conclusions on the political and humanitarian crisis in the West African sub-region of the Mano River Union countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea), following the high-level troika mission to those countries and Mali (current chair of ECOWAS) on 29-31 May in order to assess how the EU can contribute to a solution of the crisis. The conclusions are expected in particular to:
underline the importance of a constructive dialogue between the parties concerned;
express support for regional efforts under the auspices of ECOWAS to restore peace and stability;
express the Council's readiness to consider support for a possible border force between Guinea and Liberia provided it obtains explicit consent and co-operation by the governments concerned;
welcome positive developments towards peace in Sierra Leone and express support for UNAMSIL efforts.

Follow-up of the European Council in Göteborg, 15-16 June 2001
In order to allow the General Affairs Council to fulfill its role as general coordinator of Council activities, the Presidency will present to Ministers a working document listing the remits resulting from the European Council which require specific follow-up measures by the EU Institutions, in particular with regard to climate change, the missions to be send to Japan, Australia and Canada to discuss this issue and notably the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Council will also address the question of the violence in Göteborg during the European Council meeting and on how this matter has to be dealt with in the EU framework. It is recalled that Prime Minister PERSSON had indicated already in Göteborg that he will bring together competent representatives of the former French Presidency, the Swedish Presidency, the incoming Belgian Presidency and probably other future presidencies to deal with this matter.
Facilitation of movement of persons on one-day cruises between Turkey and Greece
The Council is expected to come back to this issue - which had been raised by the Greek Minister already at the last General Affairs Council - to take stock of work carried out in the meantime within the Council bodies concerning the search for technical solutions for this problem which is of political importance for both Greece and Turkey.

***
ITEMS TO BE ADOPTED WITHOUT DEBATE ("A" ITEMS)

Openness, Transparency and Good Administrative Behavior - Council conclusions

The Council conclusions welcome in particular the progress made in this field since the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam notably with the adoption of the Regulations regarding access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents and on making certain categories of Council document available to the public via Internet, the creation of a "Citizen Forum" and a "Future of Europe" website and progress made concerning the presentation via Internet of legislative texts free of charge under a common portal: Euro Lex.

In addition the Council will note the adoption by the SG/HR of a code of conduct of Good Administrative Behavior for the General Secretariat of the Council and its staff in their professional relations with the public.

Human Rights and Democratization

The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the EU's Role in Promoting Human Rights and Democratization in Third Countries. The conclusions follow the communication issued by the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on 8 May concerning that subject. They are expected in particular to welcome the Commission's communication as a valuable contribution towards reinforcing the coherence and consistency of the EU's human rights policy, and to reaffirm the Council's commitment to:

-the coherence and consistency between Community action and CFSP as well as development policy;- the "mainstreaming" of human rights and democratization into EU policies and actions;
-the openness of the EU's human rights policy through a strengthened dialogue with the European Parliament and civil society;
-the regular identification and review of priority actions in the implementation of the human rights policy.

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

On the occasion of the International Day in support of victims of torture, the Council is expected to adopt a declaration of the European Union to underline the primary importance it attaches to the prevention and eradication of torture. The International Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force, on 26 June 1987, of the UN Convention against torture.

Note: on 9 April, the Council adopted Guidelines for an EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, with a view to strengthening the EU's action towards the global eradication of torture.

EU-Japan Action Plan

At the July 2000 EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo, the two sides had agreed to further strengthen their bilateral relationship and express this in a new political commitment. They had agreed to elaborate an EU-Japan Action Plan for a ten year period, to be approved by the next EU-Japan Summit (to be held in Europe, the date still to be agreed). The Council is expected to approve the EU position regarding the Action Plan with a view to the next stage of negotiations with Japan.

The proposed Action Plan "Shaping our Common Future", addresses four main objectives: (i) Promoting Peace and Security; (ii) Strengthening the Economic and Trade Partnership Utilizing the Dynamism of Globalization for the Benefit of All; (iii) Coping with Global and Societal Changes and (iv) Bringing Together People and Cultures.

EU-Switzerland relations

Following the examination within the Council bodies of the Commission report on the state of contacts between the EU and Switzerland regarding the various issues under discussion with this country (participation in the Environment Agency, statistics, combat against fraud, processed agricultural products, taxation of savings, liberalization of services, participation in training, youth and media EU programmes and in the Dublin/Schengen acquits), the Council is expected to adopt conclusions taking note of the state of play of these contacts and organizing the internal work and the way of how to proceed further with Switzerland on the different matters, in particular

- to request that the technical, institutional and legal questions related to the Swiss request of participation in the Schengen/Dublin acquits be examined, without further delay in the appropriate Council preparatory bodies, in order to prepare for the discussion of a negotiating mandate; and to ask the Commission:
- to start negotiations with Switzerland regarding the areas where the Council has adopted mandates (environment, statistics, agriculture and fraud);
- to continue the ongoing exploration contacts with Switzerland regarding the other areas;
- to propose, at the appropriate time and within its competence, draft mandates to the Council in the respective areas.
- The conclusions further request the competent Working Party to continue its monitoring of the ongoing contacts and developments in the various areas under discussion with Switzerland.

EU Common position on Cuba

The Council will take note of the 9th evaluation of the EU Common position on Cuba. It is recalled that the objectives of the EU towards Cuba are the encouragement of a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Council is expected to note that there have not been any substantial signs of change of the policy of the Cuban Government , but that the Common position remains valid and should continue to be the basis of EU policy.

EVENTS AND MEETINGS ON THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL

MONDAY 25.06.2001

Signature of the EURO-MED Association Agreement with Egypt - 16h15

In the margins of the Council, the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association with Egypt will be signed on behalf of the EU by the President of the Council and Commissioner PATTEN and by the Foreign Ministers of EU Member States and on behalf of Egypt by Foreign Minister Mr. Ahmed Maher EL SAYED.

There will be a dinner (19h30) with the Egyptian Minister during which the following items may be discussed: Middle East Peace Process, Prospects for the Barcelona Process, Conflict prevention in Africa.

The aims of this Agreement are:

- to provide an appropriate framework for political dialogue, allowing the development of close political relations between the Parties;
- to establish conditions for the progressive liberalization of trade in goods, services and capital;
- to foster the development of balanced economic and social relations between the Parties through dialogue and cooperation;
- to contribute to the economic and social development of Egypt;
- to encourage regional cooperation with a view to the consolidation of peaceful co-existence and economic and political stability;
- to promote cooperation in other areas which are of mutual interest.

European Economic Area Council meeting - 17h00

The 15th meeting of the EEA Council will have the following agenda:

- Assessment of the overall functioning of the EEA Agreement,
- Enlargement of the EU and the EEA,
- Follow-up to the Stockholm Summit on Employment, Economic reform and Social cohesion,
- Environment and sustainable development.

TUESDAY 26.06.2001

Association Council with Turkey - 8h45

- The 40th meeting of the EU-Turkey Association Council will be preceded by an informal meeting over breakfast (8h00) which will allow to discuss political issues of common interest. The Turkish Delegation will be lead by Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Ismail CEM. The Association Council will cover the following agenda:
- The Helsinki European Council and beyond;
- The enhanced pre-accession strategy;
- The state of bilateral relations under the Association Agreement and the Customs Union;
- Financial co-operation, including EIB lending.
- Regional co-operation.

Association Council with Slovakia - 9h45

The Slovak delegation will be lead, at the seventh meeting of the EU-Slovakia Association Council, by Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Eduard KUKAN. This meeting will have the following agenda:

- Preparation for the enlargement of the Union;
- The enhanced pre-accession strategy;
- The state of bilateral relations under the Europe Agreement;
- Financial co-operation;
- Regional co-operation.

Association Council with Slovenia - 11h00

The Slovenian delegation will be lead by Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Dimitri RUPEL at the third meeting of the EU-Slovenia Association Council. This meeting will have the following agenda:

- Preparation for the enlargement of the Union;
- The enhanced pre-accession strategy;
- The state of bilateral relations under the Europe Agreement;
- Financial co-operation;
- Regional co-operation.

Co-operation Council with Ukraine - 12h15

The Ukrainian delegation at the fourth meeting of the EU-Ukraine Co-operation Council will be lead by Prime Minister Mr. Anatoly KINAKH and will comprise also Mr. Vassyl ROHOVTY, Minister for Economic Affairs and Mr. Stanislav STASHEVSKI, Minister for Energy. The Council will have the following agenda:

- Recommendations of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee
- Political developments in Ukraine and in the EU
- Ukraine
- EU

International issues of mutual concern

- Belarus
- Moldova/Transdniestria
- Russia

EU-Ukraine relations in the framework of the PCA

- Justice and Home Affairs
- Trade
- Economic reforms and investment climate in Ukraine
- Energy

Priorities under the PCA for next 12 months

Troika EU-Albania - 15h00

During this meeting the situation in Albania will be discussed in the light of this weekend's Parliamentary elections as well as the way ahead in EU-Albania relations. The Albanian delegation will be lead by Foreign Affairs Minister MILO.

Co-operation Council with MERCOSUR - 15h00

The Mercosur delegation at the second meeting of the EU-Mercosur Co-operation Council will be lead by Paraguayan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Jose Antonio MORENO RUSSINELLI. This meeting will have the following agenda:

EU-Mercosur Association Agreement

- state of negotiations;
- next phase of negotiations;
- EU-Mercosur trade;
- recent economic developments in the Mercosur and the EU.

Political dialogue

- Recent developments in both regions;
- Second summit EU-Latin America/Caribbean (Madrid, May 2002);
- United Nations.

Co-operation Council with Chile - 16h15

The Chile delegation will be lead by Foreign Affairs Minister Mme Soledad ALVEAR at the second meeting of the EU-Chile Co-operation Council. This meeting will have the following agenda:

EU-Chile Association Agreement

- state of negotiations;
- next phase of negotiations;
- EU-Mercosur trade;
- recent economic developments in the Mercosur and the EU.

Political dialogue

- Recent developments in both regions;
- Second summit EU-Latin America/Caribbean (Madrid, May 2002);
- United Nations.

* * *

The meetings with Mercosur and Chile will be preceded by a lunch (13h30)- political dialogue in open format - on recent developments in Latin America, including Colombia and the Quebec Summit, recent developments in the EU, enlargement, EU-US Summit, 2nd EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit, Conflict prevention and crises management.

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