EU General Affairs and External Relations Council Conclusions

Main results of the Council

The Council welcomed the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, who has been indicted by the ICTY for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It felt that this development illustrated the commitment of the new government in Belgrade to contribute to peace and stability in the Balkans region, and was a significant step in Serbia's rapprochement with the EU. The Council encouraged the Serbian Government to continue along this road.

The Council regretted that the people of Zimbabwe were unable to vote freely in the election on 27 June, the result of which the EU regards as illegitimate. The Council decided to penalise those responsible for the campaign of violence which marked the elections, by extending the restrictive measures (a visa ban and the freezing of funds) to more individuals, and by adding entities linked to them. The Council also decided to reinforce the travel ban arrangements. The Council declared that it was ready to continue giving its support to any credible mediation effort which might lead to the establishment of a transitional government and to the holding as soon as possible of free, pluralist and transparent elections.

The Council also held detailed discussions on:

- Ukraine, with a view to the EU-Ukraine summit to be held on 9 September 2008, and in the context of the ongoing negotiations on an enhanced agreement;

- the Middle East, and the Union's contribution to efforts to support the peace process, in the presence of the representative of the Quartet, Tony Blair.

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

UKRAINE

ZIMBABWE - Council conclusions

CHAD/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Council conclusions

SOMALIA - Council conclusions

IRAN

MIDDLE EAST

WESTERN BALKANS - Council conclusions

OTHER BUSINESS
Transatlantic relations
Georgia

EVENTS IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- EU/Kazakhstan - Partnership and Cooperation Agreement - Enlargement
- EU-Mexico Joint Council
- International Rubber Study Group

BUDGET
- Draft amending budget for 2008: EU own resources and UK correction

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
- EU system of generalised trade preferences for 2009 to 2011
- Aid effectiveness - Third High-Level Forum
- European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid - Action Plan

GENERAL AFFAIRS
- Proceedings in the Council's other configurations

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
- Report by the Court of Auditors on the European Union Solidarity Fund

RESEARCH
- Fusion energy - cooperation agreements with Brazil, China and India

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• EU agrees to maintain trade preferences for developing countries (23/7/2008)
• Conclusions du Conseil de l'UE sur le Zimbabwe (22/7/2008)
• Conclusions du Conseil de l'UE sur les Balkans occidentaux (22/7/2008)
• Conclusions du Conseil de l'UE sur la Somalie  (22/7/2008)
• EUHR Solana welcomes the arrest of Radovan Karadzic (22/7/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid (22/7/2008)
• Conclusions du Conseil de l'UE relatives à l'opération EUFOR Tchad/RCA  (22/7/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Western Balkans (22/7/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on Zimbabwe (22/7/2008)
• EU Commission President Barroso on Arrest of Radovan Karadzic (21/7/2008)