EU External Relations Council Conclusions

PRESS RELEASE: 2678th Council Meeting, General Affairs and External Relations, External Relations Council Conclusions (Provisional), Luxembourg

Main Results of the Council
The Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro for an association and stabilisation agreement at the earliest opportunity. The decision marks the first important step towards the establishment of contractual relations between the EU and Serbia and Montenegro.

Against the background of the Uzbek authorities' refusal to allow and independent international inquiry into the events in Andijan in May and in light of the excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Uzbek security forces during these events, the Council decided to impose a series of measures including an embargo on exports to Uzbekistan of arms, military equipment and other equipment that might be used for internal repression and restrictions on admission to the European Union aimed at those individuals directly responsible for the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force in Andijan.

The Council welcomed the resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors on 24 September and urged Iran to seize the opportunity offered by the resolution by implementing all the measures requested by the IAEA Board, including reinstating a full suspension of all fuel cycle activities.

In its General Affairs session (press release 12514/05 Presse241), the Council also noted agreement to respond positively to a request from Presidents Voronin and Yuschenko for the EU to establish a Border Mission on the Moldova/Ukraine border, including the Transnistrian segment.

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS - Council conclusions

IRAN - Council conclusions

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions

EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT PREPARATION

UZBEKISTAN - Council conclusions

OTHER BUSINESS
-ASEM

See the complete External Relations Council Conclusions for detailed information.

| Arriba |

• EU Council Conclusions on Uzbekistan (3/10/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions on Western Balkans (3/10/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iran  (3/10/2005)
• EU Council: Foreign Ministers agree on membership talks with Turkey  (3/10/2005)
• Serbia and Montenegro: Commission proposes mandate for negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement (12/7/2005)