EU External Relations Council Conclusions

PRESS RELEASE: 2756th Council Meeting, General Affairs and External Relations, External Relations, Luxembourg, 16-17 October 2006

Main Results of the Council

The Council, which placed particular emphasis on trade and development issues, agreed to moving ahead with pledges to provide EUR 2 billion annually in aid for trade, irrespective of progress in world trade talks, with the aim of supporting the capacity of developing countries for taking advantage of new trade opportunities. The funds come on top of EUR 22.7 billion already agreed on by the Council for the European Development Fund for the 2008-13 period.

The Council agreed to earmark a substantial share of the aid for trade effort to support economic partnership agreements currently being negotiated with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

It also debated the effectiveness of development aid and adopted conclusions on governance issues in development policy.

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The Council considered that Iran's continuation of enrichment related activities has left the EU no choice but to support consultations on appropriate measures under Article 41 under the UN Charter, as envisaged by UN security Council 1696. It noted that the door to negotiations nevertheless remained open.

The Council strongly condemned the test of a nuclear explosive device proclaimed by North Korea on 9 October 2006, which it considered poses a danger to regional stability and represents a clear threat to international peace and security. It indicated that the EU will fully implement the provisions of all relevant UNSC Resolutions and notably of Resolution 1718 and of Resolution 1695.

Expressing the EU's grave concern at the recent escalation of tension in Georgia-Russian Federation relations, the Council emphasised the importance of toning down public rhetoric and called upon both sides to reopen normal diplomatic dialogue in order to work towards a normalisation of relations.

The Council, after the holding of an EU Troika - Serbia meeting on 16 October, expressed its readiness to continue enhanced political dialogue with Serbia in order to support its European course, including the resumption of the negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement as soon as full cooperation with ICTY is achieved.

After an in-depth discussion on Kosovo, the Council urged the parties to engage constructively with the UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari to bridge the gaps between their respective positions and to refrain from unilateral or provocative action. In this context, the Council reiterated its full support for SE Ahtisaari and his efforts in conducting the political process to determine Kosovo's future status. It welcomed his intention to prepare a comprehensive settlement proposal as a basis for moving forward.

In its general affairs session, the Council extended the mandates of the EU civilian-military support action for the African Union mission in Sudan/Darfur until the end of the year, as well as the mandate of its Rule of Law mission for Iraq, EUJUST LEX until the end of next year.

More external relations items, including on development, were adopted under the General Affairs session and are reflected in 13339/06.

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

AID FOR TRADE

GOVERNANCE ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT POLICY- Council conclusions

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEVELOPMENT AID

POLICY COHERENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT

THE EU STRATEGY FOR AFRICA

SUDAN/DARFUR - Council conclusions

ZIMBABWE

MIDDLE EAST - Council conclusions

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions

IRAN - Council conclusions

GEORGIA/RUSSIAN FEDERATION RELATIONS - Council conclusions

NORTH KOREA - Council conclusions

OTHER BUSINESS

- Reform of the UN development system

- European Development Days

- EU-Ukraine relations

EVENTS IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL

- EU-troika - Turkey

- EU-troika - Serbia

For details, please see the complete Council Conclusions.

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• EU Council Conclusions on Lebanon (13/11/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process (13/11/2006)
• North Korean and Iranian delegates meet EU Parliamentarians (19/10/2006)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions  (17/10/2006)
• Sudan/Darfur: EU Council extends EU civilian-military supporting action (17/10/2006)
• €17 billion for development cooperation: EU Council reaches political agreement on financing instrument (17/10/2006)
• EU agrees to move ahead with "aid for trade" package  (16/10/2006)
• Corea del Norte: Resumen de la intervención de Solana, Alto Representante de la UE para la PESC, ante el pleno del Parlamento Europeo sobre los últimos acontecimientos  (11/10/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Nuclear Weapons (10/10/2006)
• EUHR Solana welcomes decision by Georgian authorities to release four Russian officers (2/10/2006)
• Darfur: EC President Barroso announces extra €40m in humanitarian aid (2/10/2006)
• Kosovo: Contact Group Ministerial Statement, New York (20/9/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - UN High-Level Meeting on Iraq (18/9/2006)
• Commission recommends continuing separate Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Montenegro and with Serbia  (6/7/2006)