EU Council Conclusions on General Affairs

Main results of the Council

The Council adopted a regulation amending the regime for goods, services and persons crossing the so-called green line in Cyprus, which separates those areas where the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not have effective control and those in which it does, in order to enhance trade and economic integration on the island on the basis of experience gained.

It also approved the conclusion of a stabilisation and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as an interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters. Both agreements were signed in the margins of the Council.

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

PREPARATION OF THE JUNE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

EIGHTEEN-MONTH PROGRAMME OF THE COUNCIL

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- Stabilisation and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Preparation for the EU-Russia summit
- Georgia/South Ossetia - Further assistance to the conflict-settlement process
- EU strategy for Central Asia - Report on implementation
- Association agreement with Jordan - EU enlargement
- United Nations General Assembly - EU priorities
- EU activities on the prevention of violent conflicts - Annual report
- EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - Progress report
- EU strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms - Progress report
- EU guidelines on the death penalty - Council conclusions
- EU guidelines on children in armed conflict - Council conclusions

EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY
- Presidency report on ESDP
- Bosnia and Herzegovina - Operation ALTHEA - Council conclusions
- Guinea-Bissau - EU security sector reform mission

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
- African peace facility - Financing for 2008-2010
- International coffee agreement

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
- External dimension of justice and home affairs - Progress report
- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks inventory
- Reinforcing the Union's disaster response capacity - Council conclusions
- Global approach to migration - Council conclusions

GENERAL AFFAIRS
- Cyprus - Amendments to the "green line" regulation
- Proceedings in the Council's different configurations

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
- Amendments to the EEA agreement

CUSTOMS POLICY
- Opening of new zero rate tariff quotas
- Suspension of common tariff duties on certain products

APPOINTMENTS
- Committee of the Regions

For details, download the complete General Affairs Council Conclusions.

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• EUHR Solana's statement on South Ossetia and Abkhazia (8/7/2008)
• Brussels European Council - Presidency Conclusions (20/6/2008)
• EU Commissioner Mandelson in Russia for talks on WTO accession (19/6/2008)
• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on the EU/Russia Summit Preparation - Debate at the European Parliament  (19/6/2008)
• "European Parliament debate on the European Council" - Speech by EU Commission President Barosso  (18/6/2008)
• Cyprus: EU Council Amendments to the Green Line Regulation (16/6/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Western Balkans (16/6/2008)
• EU signs stabilisation and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina (16/6/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on 10th anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Death Penalty and adoption of updated guidelines (16/6/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Review of the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict (16/6/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on Operation ALTHEA  (16/6/2008)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (16/6/2008)
• EU Priorities for the 63rd UN General Assembly (16/6/2008)