Council of the european union
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CONTENTS1 PARTICIPANTS 5 ITEMS DEBATED WTO/DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA 8 UKRAINE 8 BELARUS - Council conclusions 8 MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS 11 IRAN - Council conclusions 12 EU-JAPAN SUMMIT 12 DEVELOPMENT POLICY 12 – ACP-EU PARTNERSHIP - 10th European development fund (2008-2013) 12 – EU AID EFFECTIVENESS PACKAGE - Council conclusions 13 – DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION INSTRUMENT 16 – MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT 16 – HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 16 – OTHER DEVELOPMENT ISSUES 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 17 OTHER BUSINESS 17 – Southeast Europe - Free trade agreement 17 – United Nations world summit follow-up 17 EVENTS IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL 18
Please see General Affairs press release 7938/06. ANNEXES ANNEX I: Financing for development and aid effectiveness: delivering more, better and faster - Council conclusions 19 PARTICIPANTS The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows: Belgium: Mr Karel DE GUCHT Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Didier DONFUT State Secretary for European Affairs, attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Armand DE DECKER Minister for Development Cooperation Czech Republic: Mr Cyril SVOBODA Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Tomáš POJAR Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Bilateral Relations
Mr Per Stig MØLLER Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Ulla TØRNÆS Minister for Development Assistance
Mr Frank-Walter STEINMEIER Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Heidemarie WIECZOREK-ZEUL Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development
Mr Urmas PAET Minister for Foreign Affairs Greece: Ms Theodora BAKOYANNIS Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Ioannis VALINAKIS State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr Theodoros SKYLAKAKIS General Secretary Spain: Mr Alberto NAVARRO GONZÁLEZ State Secretary for the European Union Ms Leire PAJÍN IRAOLA State Secretary for International Cooperation
Ms Catherine COLONNA Minister with responsibility for European Affairs Ms Brigitte GIRARDIN Minister with responsibility for Cooperation, Development and the French-speaking World
Mr Dermot AHERN Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Conor LENIHAN Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights
Mr Rocco CANGELOSI Permanent Representative Cyprus: Mr George IACOVOU Minister for Foreign Affairs Latvia: Mr Artis PABRIKS Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Maija MANIKA Deputy State Secretary, Economic Relations and Development Cooperation Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Antanas VALIONIS Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Oskaras JUSYS Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Jean ASSELBORN Deputy Prime Minister, Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Mr Nicolas SCHMIT Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Mr Jean-Louis SCHILTZ Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Minister with responsibility for Communications Hungary: Mr Ferenc SOMOGYI Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Andràs BÁRSONY Political State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Michael FRENDO Minister for Foreign Affairs Netherlands: Mr Bernard BOT Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Agnes van ARDENNE-van der HOEVEN Minister for Development Cooperation
Ms Ursula PLASSNIK Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Hans WINKLER State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Stefan MELLER Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Rafal WISNIEWSKI Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Fernando DE OLIVEIRA NEVES State Secretary for European Affairs Mr João GOMES CRAVINHO State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Mr Dimitrij RUPEL Minister for Foreign Affairs Slovakia: Mr Eduard KUKAN Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr József BERÉNYI State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Erkki TUOMIOJA Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Paula LEHTOMÄKI Minister for Foreign Trade and Development
Ms Carin JÄMTIN Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Development Assistance United Kingdom: Mr Jack STRAW Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Mr Gareth THOMAS Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development
Ms Benita FERRERO-WALDNER Member Mr Peter MANDELSON Member Mr Louis MICHEL Member General Secretariat of the Council: Mr Javier SOLANA Secretary-General/High Representative for the CFSP The Governments of the Acceding States were represented as follows:
Mr Ivailo KALFIN Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Lyubomir KYUCHUKOV Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr Mihai-Răzvan UNGUREANU Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Lucian LEUSTEAN State Secretary for European Affairs
The Council was briefed by Commissioner Mandelson on the situation and on prospects for further progress in the current round of trade negotiations under the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Development Agenda. It took note of the Commission's assessment and of remarks made by delegations as the deadline of 30 April approaches. The EU will intensify bilateral contacts with its partners in the coming weeks. A special session of the Council will be convened, if necessary, in the margins of negotiations in Geneva around the end of April, at a date to be determined by the Presidency in the light of developments, to contribute to and take a position on any progress in the negotiations and to adopt the necessary decisions in this connection.
The Council discussed the situation in Ukraine following the parliamentary elections on 26 March, and notably the current negotiations on the formation of a new government. It was noted that the elections, which were considered free and fair, consolidated the democratic breakthrough in Ukraine and should provide a strong basis for renewed efforts to move forward in key reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law, transforming society and strengthening the market economy.
The Council adopted the following conclusions: "1. Recalling its previous conclusions on Belarus, notably those of 7 November 2005 and 30 January 2006, and the Declaration adopted by the European Council on 23-24 March 2006 as well as the Presidency declaration on behalf of the European Union of 22 March 2006, the Council once again deplores the fact that the Presidential elections of 19 March were not held in a free and fair manner, and condemns the violence used by the Belarusian authorities against demonstrators and the ensuing arrests of demonstrators and members of the opposition. 2. The Council condemns the treatment of all the political detainees and demands their immediate release. It calls on the Belarusian authorities to respect freedom of expression and assembly in compliance with commitments undertaken by Belarus in the framework of the OSCE and international human rights law. 3. The Council equally condemns the actions taken by the Belarusian authorities against citizens of EU member states, in particular arrests, beatings and humiliating treatment in detention. 4. The Council urges the Belarusian authorities not to penalise or discriminate against those exercising their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, including the leaders of the opposition parties. 5. In view of the recent events, the Council has decided to adopt restrictive measures against President Lukashenko, the Belarusian leadership and officials responsible for the violations of international electoral standards, in particular those of the OSCE, and international human rights law, as well as for the crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition. The individuals listed in annex will be subjected to a visa ban and possible further targeted measures. Such measures will not be directed against the Belarusian population. 6. The Council will keep the measures to be adopted and the list of persons targeted open and under constant review. The measures should be reviewed in light of the speedy release and rehabilitation of all political detainees, and in the light of reforms made to the Electoral Code to bring it in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections as recommended by the OSCE/ODIHR, the conduct of future elections, and concrete actions by the authorities to respect democratic values, the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression and of the media, and the freedom of assembly and political association. 7. The EU will continue to act in close coordination with international partners, and urges all countries to adopt similar measures. 8. These steps are adopted in addition to those taken by the Council on 24 September 2004 against four Belarusian officials identified as key actors in the disappearances of four Belarusian personalities; and those taken on 13 December 2004 against two officials responsible for the October 2004 fraudulent elections and referendum as well as severe human rights violations in the repression of peaceful demonstrators. 9. In the course of the election campaign, the European Union has witnessed the emergence of pluralistic forces and the consolidation of a genuine Belarusian opposition as well as a politically active civil society. In very difficult circumstances and at great personal risk, opposition candidates and their supporters have offered the Belarusian population a democratic alternative. The Council reiterates its commitment to engage with Belarusian society by further strengthening its support for civil society and democratisation; it will also intensify and facilitate people-to-people contacts and enhance access to independent sources of information. 10. The EU remains open to developing bilateral relations with Belarus, including in the context of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the European Neighbourhood Policy, provided the Belarusian authorities prove a sincere willingness to respect human rights, the rule of law and democratic values and initiate democratic reforms. ANNEX: 31 individuals to be targeted by the restrictive measures (visa ban): 1. Lukashenko Aleksandr Grigorievich (30.08.1954. Kopys, Vitebsk oblast) President 2. Nievyhlas Hienadz Mikalayevich; Nevyglas Gennady Nikolaevich (11.02.1954. Parahonsk, Pinsk district) Head of President's Administration 3. Petkevich Nataliya Vladimirovna (1972. Minsk) Deputy Head of President's administration 4. Rubinov Anatoly Nikolaevich (1940.) Deputy Head in charge of media and ideology, PA 5. Praliaskowski Alieh Vitoldavich; Proleskovskiy Oleg Vitoldovich (01.10.1963. Zagorsk - Russia, now Sergijev Posad) Aide and Head of the Main Ideological department, PA 6. Radkov Aleksandr Mikhailovich (01.07.1951. Votnya) Minister of Education 7. Rusakevich Vladimir Vasilevich (13.09.1947. Vygonoshchi) Minister of Information 8. Halavanaw Viktar Ryhoravich; Golovanov Viktor Grigorevich (1952. Borisov) Minister of Justice 9. Zimowski Aliaksandr Lieanidavich; Zimovsky Alexander Leonidovich (10.01.1961. Possibly Ukraine) Member of the Upper House of the Parliament; Head of the national state teleradio company 10. Kanapliow Uladzimir Mikalayevich; Konoplyev Vladimir Nikolaevich (03.01.1954. Akulintsy) Chairman of the Lower House of the Parliament 11. Charhiniets Mikalay Ivanavich; Cherginets Nikolai Ivanovich (17.10.1937. Minsk) Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Upper House 12. Kastsian Siarhiey Ivanavich; Kostyan Sergey Ivanovich (15.01.1941. Usokhi, Mogilev oblast) Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lower House 13. Orda Mikhail Siarhieyevich, Orda Mikhail Sergeyevich (28.09.1966. Dyatlovo, Grodno oblast) Member of the Upper House, leader of BRSM 14. Lozovik Nikolay Ivanovich (1951.Nevinyany, Minsk oblast), Deputy of the Central Election Commission of Belarus 15. Miklashevich Pyotr Petrovich (1954. Kosuta, Minsk oblast) Prosecutor General 16. Slizhevsky Oleg Leonidovich, Head of the Division of Social organisations, parties and NGOs, Ministry of Justice 17. Khariton Alexandr, Consultant of the Division of Social organisations, parties and NGOs of the Ministry of Justice 18. Smyrnov Yevgeny (1949. Ryazan oblast, Russia), First Deputy of the Chairman of the Economic Court 19. Reutskaya Nadezhda, Judge of the Moscow district of Minsk 20. Trubnikov Nikolay, Judge of the Partizanskiy disctrict of Minsk 21. Kupriyanov Nikolai, Prosecutor of Minsk 22. Sukhorenko Stepan Nikolaevich (27.01.1957. Zdudichi, Mogilev oblast) Chairman of KGB 23. Dementei Vasily Ivanovich, First deputy, KGB 24. Kozik Lieanid Piatrovich; Kozik Leonid Petrovich (13.07.1948. Borisov) Head of the Federation of Trade Unions 25. Koleda Alexandr, Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Brest oblast 26. Usov, N.D., Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Gomel oblast 27. Luchina Leonid, Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Grodno oblast 28. Kravchenko Tayana Aleksandrovna, Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Minsk City 29. Kurlovich Vladimir, Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Minsk oblast 30. Metelitsa Nikolai, Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Mogilev oblast 31. Pischulenok, M.V., Сhairman of the Central Election Commission of the Vitebsk oblast." MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS The Council adopted the following conclusions: "The Council discussed the situation of the Middle East Peace Process following the swearing in of the new Palestinian government and the result of general elections in Israel. The Council noted with grave concern that the new Palestinian government has not committed itself to the three principles laid out by the Council and the Quartet in their statements of 30 January: non-violence, recognition of Israel’s right to exist and acceptance of existing agreements. It urged the new Palestinian government to meet and implement these three principles and to commit to President Abbas' platform of peace. This would further the Palestinian people's aspirations to peace and statehood. Consistent with the Quartet statement of 30 March, the EU is reviewing its assistance to the Palestinians against the new government's commitment to the aforementioned principles. The Council recalled that the absence of such commitment will inevitably have an effect on direct assistance to that government. The EU will continue to provide necessary assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population. In this context, it also underlined the importance of improved access and movement and called on both parties to implement the 15 November 2005 Movement and Access Agreement. The Council notes with concern the recent violent incidents in the Palestinian Territories and calls on all parties to refrain from violence and exercise self-restraint. The Council urged the Palestinian Authority to ensure security in the areas it controls, and ensure the safety of international personnel. The Council reiterated its aim to preserve and pursue the democratic functioning and development of the institutions of the Palestinian Authority. In this context, it emphasized the central role of President Abbas as the highest representative of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO and reiterated its support for him. The Council noted the result of the Israeli general elections. The Council underlined the importance of a strong commitment by the new Israeli government to work towards a negotiated solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on existing agreements, the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the principles laid down in the Road Map. The Council called on Israel to desist from any action, such as settlement activities and the construction of the separation barrier on Palestinian land, that is contrary to international law and threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. The Council urged Israel to take steps to improve the humanitarian and economic situation of the Palestinians including by resuming transfers of the Palestinian tax and customs revenues withheld. The Council welcomed the recent statement of Acting Prime Minister Olmert to seek negotiations with the Palestinians and the positive response to it by President Abbas. In this context, the Council looked forward to an early engagement between the new Israeli government and the Palestinians in order to advance a just, viable and lasting solution which would bring peace to both the Israeli and the Palestinian people."
The Council adopted the following conclusions: "The Council welcomes the UN Security Council Presidential Statement of 29 March, which reinforced the role of the IAEA and called upon Iran to take the steps required by the IAEA Board of Governors, which are essential to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear programme. It also welcomes the conclusions of the Ministerial meeting in Berlin on 30 March. The Council underlines that the international community is united and determined to uphold the authority of IAEA Board resolutions and to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Council remains committed to a diplomatic solution. It calls on Iran to comply with the UN Security Council Presidential Statement and implement all IAEA Board resolutions in full and to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to allow a return to negotiations. The Council underlines its continued concerns about the human rights situation in Iran, in particular regarding the situation of Bahá'ís and other religious minorities as well as of human rights defenders, including Mr. Akbar Ganji and Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani."
The Council took note of the state of preparations for the EU-Japan summit to be held in Tokyo in April 2006. DEVELOPMENT POLICY
The Council held an exchange of views on the 10th European development fund (EDF), that constitutes the financial framework for the period 2008-2013 regarding the Community's financial assistance to the ACP (African, Caribbean, Pacific) group of states, the member states' overseas countries and territories and administrative expenditure on implementation. The Council tasked the permanent representatives committee to continue work with a view to preparing the Council's position for the ACP-EU joint Council of ministers on 1-2 June in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where ACP and EU ministers will agree on the financial framework ensuring continued support for the ACP states. The Council will come back to the subject at its next meeting on 15-16 May. The Council also took note of information provided by the Commission on the programming of the 10th EDF and on regional seminars that have taken place in recent months. The framework of the 10th EDF as agreed by the European Council in December 2005, with an allocation of EUR 22,7 billion, is an intergovernmental fund with a contribution key different from the one applicable to the EU budget. Furthermore, the Commission provided ministers with updated information on the implementation of the EU strategy for Africa.
The Council and the representatives of the governments of the member states meeting within the Council adopted conclusions on : a) Financing for development and aid effectiveness: delivering more, better and faster (8243/1/06 REV 1) (see Annex I); b) Policy coherence for development: work programme 2006-2007: "THE COUNCIL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, RECALLING the Conclusions of 24 May 2005 1 affirming the EU commitment to promoting Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), based upon ensuring that the EU takes account of the objectives of development cooperation in all policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries, and that these policies support development objectives; REAFFIRMING the importance of non-development policies for assisting developing countries in achieving the MDGs and the EU intention to maximise the positive contributions that these non-aid policies can make to developing countries and to minimise their negative effects; RECALLING the Joint Development Policy Statement (JDPS) by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission: "The European Consensus on Development" 2, signed on 20 December 2005, which also called for the adoption of a rolling work programme as a new tool to facilitate the implementation of EU commitments to promote PCD; RECALLING the European Security Strategy, which calls for a more active, coherent and capable European Union thereby describing security as a precondition for development; and RECALLING the JDPS, which states that without peace and security development and poverty eradication are not possible, and without development and poverty eradication no sustainable peace will occur; RECALLING that the Work Programme 2006-2007 should propose priorities for action, define roles and responsibilities of the Council, the Member States and the Commission and set out sequencing and timetables, with the aim of ensuring that non-aid policies can assist developing countries in achieving the MDGs; FULLY RESPECTING the single institutional framework and the role and competencies of the relevant Council bodies; INVITE the Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, to prepare a rolling work programme by June 2006 with a view to its subsequent adoption by the Council and WELCOME the efforts made by the Commission in its Staff Working Paper "Policy Coherence for Development: Work Programme 2006-2007" as a basis for this; REAFFIRM their commitment to ensuring effective follow-up of all commitments on PCD, in particular as regards the 12 areas identified in the aforementioned Conclusions of 24 May 2005 (Trade, Environment, Climate Change, Security, Agriculture, Fisheries, Social Dimension of Globalisation, Employment and Decent Work, Migration, Research and Innovation, Information Society, Transport and Energy). Sequencing and calendar of work on PCD and priorities for action in the above mentioned areas will reflect the EU and international agenda and be incorporated in the rolling work programme; UNDERSCORE the great importance they attach to the joint responsibility of the Commission, the Council and the Member States in this regard, and therefore INVITE the Commission and the Member States to provide for adequate mechanisms and instruments within their respective spheres of competence to ensure PCD as appropriate; ADOPT the following priorities for action on PCD:
WELCOME the Commission's intention to adopt the following priorities for action:
INVITE Member States to adopt the following priorities for action:
and RECOGNISE the need for sufficient capacity to be made available at the level of the Commission, the Council and the Member States to fully engage in follow-up to the aforementioned Conclusions of 24 May 2005 and the present Conclusions, as well as in the implementation of the future rolling work programme."
Ministers took note of progress on the EU development cooperation and economic cooperation instrument, and particularly on the approach to be taken so that legislation can be agreed on this subject as soon as possible. The Commission proposed this instrument as part of a package of external financing instruments with a view to replacing various current instruments used to finance development in mostly non-ACP countries as well as projects in industrialised countries. ACP countries will also benefit from thematic programmes to be financed under the instrument, such as environment, food security, migration and energy projects. It will be decided in co-decision with the European Parliament.
Development ministers heard a report on the meeting of the UN commission on population and development that took place in New York from 3 to 7 April. They also heard a report from the Belgian minister on a conference held in Brussels on this subject on 15 March. They were briefed on the Commission's plans to present a communication to the Council on this subject further into this year. The ACP-EU Council will debate the question of migration and development when it meets in Papua New Guinea in June.
The Council held a discussion on humanitarian aid issues in order to assess the EU's humanitarian assistance system and provide guidance for future work. The debate was structured on the basis of a questionnaire (8063/1/06) prepared by the presidency focusing on how to reinforce the ongoing work to reform the international humanitarian response system. It constitutes a follow-up to the debate held by development ministers last November. Natural disasters in 2005 highlighted the need to continually review and reinforce national and international systems for delivering and coordinating humanitarian assistance.
A number of conclusions on other development issues were adopted without debate and are reflected in the "General Affairs" press release (7938/06 Presse 94). SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY The Council had a discussion with a view to helping the Presidency prepare a renewed EU sustainable development strategy to be adopted at the June European Council. In June 2005, the European Council adopted a declaration on guiding principles for sustainable development based on the four principles of environmental protection, social equity and cohesion, economic prosperity and meeting international responsibilities. In December 2005, it looked forward to adopting in June 2006 an ambitious and comprehensive strategy, comprising targets, indicators and an effective monitoring procedure, integrating the internal and external dimensions and based on a positive long-term vision, bringing together the Community's sustainable development priorities and objectives.
The Romanian delegation informed the Council of the decision taken by prime ministers of Southeast European countries in Bucharest on 6 April to launch negotiations on a regional free trade agreement on the basis of the CEFTA (Central Europe Free Trade Agreement). The Presidency commended the initiative.
The Council had a brief exchange of views on the implementation of the outcome of the UN world summit and adopted conclusions on the subject (7157/06). The Council held a discussion on the development aspects of the UN reform process and agreed on the need to continue working to make international humanitarian assistance more coherent and more effective. The Council took also note of information on the preparation of an informal meeting on this issue to be held in Vienna on 9 June. EVENTS IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL The EU and the International Criminal Court signed an agreement on cooperation and assistance (7871/06). The following meetings were held in the margins of the Council:
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED Please see General Affairs press release 7938/06. ANNEXES Yüklə 212 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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