EU External Relations Council Conclusions

PRESS RELEASE: 2706th Council Meeting, General Affairs and External Relations, External Relations, Brussels, 30-31 January 2006

Main Results of the Council

Following the 25 January elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the Council stressed the need for the continuous commitment of all parties to the Palestinian constitutional process, underlined that violence and terror are incompatible with democratic processes and urged Hamas and all other factions to renounce violence, to recognise Israel's right to exist, and to disarm.

The Council indicated that it expects the newly elected PLC to support the formation of a government committed to a peaceful and negotiated solution of the conflict with Israel based on existing agreements and the Roadmap as well as on the rule of law, reform and sound fiscal management. On this basis, the EU stands ready to continue to support Palestinian economic development and democratic state building.

Regarding Iran's nuclear programme, the Council expressed the EU's grave concern at the removal of seals at several nuclear installations and Iran's decision to resume enrichment-related activities. In the light of recent Iranian actions which run counter to IAEA resolutions, EU member states will closely coordinate and work for the forthcoming extraordinary meeting of the IAEA board of governors in Vienna to involve the UN Security Council reinforcing the authority of the IAEA.

The Council called on the authorities of Belarus to ensure that the 19 March presidential elections are conducted in a free and fair manner in accordance with international standards. Welcoming the invitation by Belarus to the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, it urged the responsible Belarusian authorities to allow the mission to operate unimpeded; to ensure that all eligible candidates are allowed to register for the elections, to campaign freely and to enjoy equal access to state-controlled media; and to allow domestic and international media to report freely on the electoral process.

The Council appointed Christian Schwarz-Schilling as EU special representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It commended the departing EU special representative and high representative Lord Paddy Ashdown for his extraordinary commitment to and achievements for Bosnia and its European future.

A number of decisions concerning external relations are reflected in the Council's General Affairs press release (5562/06)

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

WORLD TRADE NEGOTIATIONS - DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions

LATIN AMERICA

AFGHANISTAN - Council conclusions

BELARUS - Council conclusions

IRAN - Council conclusions

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS - Council conclusions

IRAQ - Council conclusions

ASEM - ASIA-EUROPE MEETING PROCESS

OTHER BUSINESS
- Nepal
- Ivory Coast
- Middle East: Reactions to cartoons in a Danish newspaper

IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
Please see General Affairs press release: 5562/06 Presse 21.

See the complete External Relations Council Conclusions for detailed information.

| Top |

• EU Council Conclusions on Africa - 2736th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting  (12/6/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Belarus (10/4/2006)
• Statement by Commissioner Rehn following his meeting with the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)  (3/4/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan (20/3/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Afghanistan (30/1/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Belarus (30/1/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Iran (30/1/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Iraq (30/1/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Middle-East Peace Process (30/1/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Western Balkans (30/1/2006)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions (30/1/2006)