EU Council Conclusions on Sudan/Darfur

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1. The Council reiterated the EU's continuing support to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) as a basis for peace and reconciliation in Darfur and encouraged its full and rapid implementation.

The Council underlined the urgent need to show peace dividend to the people of Darfur and noted the important role of the Darfur-Joint Assessment Mission (D-JAM) in this respect. The findings of the JAM will be presented at a Donors Conference organised by The Netherlands which is currently planned for October 2006. The Council stressed that for a successful JAM an improvement in security on the ground is urgently needed. In the light of the recent reports of the situation on the ground, the Council expressed concern that delays in implementing the agreement will have serious consequences for the security and humanitarian situation and in this context condemned the attack by the National Redemption Front (NRF) on Hamrat al Sheikh on 3 July 2006. The Council emphasized the crucial role of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation in bringing the DPA to the grass-roots level and in particular increasing the involvement of women, encouraged the AU to expedite preparations for the process, and expressed EU's readiness to support this initiative.

2. The Council again urged non-signatories to join in and commit themselves to the implementation of the agreement. The Council expressed support to the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) decision on 27 June to impose targeted measures against those who undermine the DPA, obstruct its implementation or violate the Comprehensive Ceasefire.

3. The Council emphasized the vital role of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) for the peace process in Darfur, and for DPA implementation in particular. The Council stressed the need to continue to enhance the operational capabilities of AMIS, emphasizing especially the need to ensure protection of the civilian population and humanitarian access. In this respect, the Council welcomed the new Concept of Operations for AMIS, and in particular the AU PSC decision of 27 June to approve the additional tasks and the new mandate of AMIS already within its existing strength and capacity. The Council recalled the need to swiftly implement the recommendations of the AU-led evaluation mission of December 2005 in order to enhance the mission's overall efficiency.

4. The Council urged the Government of Sudan to accept the decision of the AU Peace and Security Council, reaffirmed at its meeting of 27 June, to end the mandate of AMIS within the context of a transition to a UN peacekeeping operation. The Council expressed support for an early UNSC resolution establishing a UN operation in Darfur, as this would provide a clear framework allowing all stakeholders to maximise their support for AMIS in the interim period and to facilitate a successful transition to a future UN mission.

5. The Council underlined that a UN operation is the only viable and realistic option in Darfur in the long term. The Council welcomed the AU/ UN Technical Assessment Mission paving the way for sustainable peacekeeping in support of the DPA. The Council noted with concern the position of the Government of Sudan towards a UN operation urging it to enter into a real dialogue with the international community, especially with the AU and the UN, on the details of the future UN peace keeping force in Darfur in order to show real commitment to peace.

6. The Council reaffirmed the EU's commitment to support the efforts of the AU and AMIS in Sudan and Darfur politically and financially as well as through military and police means. The Council welcomed the forthcoming AMIS Conference on 18 July in Brussels as a joint AU, UN and EU exercise and as an important opportunity to discuss pressing issues regarding the mission's political environment as well as further enhancing the effectiveness of EU technical and staff support to AMIS. The Council recalled that engagement of the Government of Sudan with this joint effort would create opportunities for more broad-based cooperation between the parties, and lay the ground for continuing support for the overall peace process in Sudan, including the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), negotiations in the Eastern Sudan and relations between Sudan and Chad.

7. The Council expressed its concern about the security conditions in the Darfur refugee camps located in Chad.

8. The Council reiterated its full support for the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of human rights abuses in Darfur as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1593(2005) and urged all parties, in particular the Government of Sudan, to cooperate fully with the ICC.

9. The Council calls on the Government of Sudan and all parties in Darfur to remove immediately any existing obstacles to the delivery of aid and to end any obstruction of humanitarian work or of assistance rendered to AMIS."

| Arriba |

• European Commission statement on Darfur (18/9/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan/Darfur (15/9/2006)
• EUHR Solana expresses serious concern about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur (19/8/2006)
• EUHR Solana at Darfur Conference (18/7/2006)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (17/7/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council Public Meeting on Sudan (29/6/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council Public Meeting on Sudan (9/5/2006)
• Darfur: European Commission announces €100M for the humanitarian and initial recovery package  (4/5/2006)
• Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on access for humanitarian operations in Darfur (6/4/2006)
• EU Presidency Declaration on agreement between Chad and Sudan (13/2/2006)