EU External Relations Council Conclusions

PRESS RELEASE: 2776th Council meeting, General Affairs and External Relations, EXTERNAL RELATIONS, Brussels, 22 January 2007

* Some external relations items were adopted without debate at the meeting on General Affairs (05462/07).

Main Results of the Council

The Council adopted negotiating directives for a new enhanced agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. Negotiations are due to be launched at the EU Troika - Ukraine ministerial meeting on 6 February 2006 in Kiev.

The Council welcomed the peaceful and orderly conduct of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Serbia on 21 January. It took note of the preliminary election results which indicate a clear majority for reform orientated political parties and called for the speedy formation of a government committed to Serbia's European course and prepared to tackle the challenges ahead in a spirit of constructive cooperation with the international community.

On Iran, the Council welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1737 of 23 December 2006 and called on all countries to implement it in full and without delay. To ensure effective implementation at EU level while remaining consistent with EU policy, and recalling the EU policy not to sell arms to Iran, ministers agreed that the EU should prevent the export to and import from Iran of the goods on the NSG and MTCR lists; ban transactions with and freeze the assets of individuals and entities covered by the criteria in the resolution; ban travel to the EU of the individuals covered by these criteria; and take measures to prevent Iranian nationals from studying proliferation sensitive subjects within the EU.


CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE - Council conclusions

EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY

SUDAN - Council conclusions

SOMALIA - Council conclusions

IRAN - Council conclusions

EXTERNAL RELATIONS IN ENERGY

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions

MIDDLE EAST - Council conclusions

LIBYA - Council conclusions

THE DEATH PENALTY

OTHER BUSINESS

IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

See 05462/07.

For details, see the complete External Relations Council Conclusions .

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• EU Council Conclusions on Somalia (12/2/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Lebanon (12/2/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Death Sentence against five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor in Libya  (22/1/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Middle East (22/1/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Somalia (22/1/2007)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions (22/1/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan (22/1/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iran (22/1/2007)