General Affairs Council (Hansard, 14 December 1998)

§ Ms Quin

The General Affairs Council in Brussels on 7/8 December adopted the A points listed in document 13773/98 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its sessions of 4-5 November and 16-20 November listed in documents 11765/98 and 12776/98. Copies of the documents listing the A points and resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.

Foreign Ministers met in a Conclave on 6 December to discuss all areas of Agenda 2000 on the basis of a draft Presidency Report to Vienna, with particular emphasis on Structural Funds. We believe the report was a good summary of progress so far. It was agreed that it should go to the Vienna European Council. There was further discussion at the GAC on 7 December, but no formal conclusions.

The GAC agreed its report to the Vienna European Council broadly endorsing the Commission's Progress Reports. It also agreed Conclusions stating that it would not at this stage make any recommendations to the European Council to add extra countries to the accession negotiations.

The Presidency presented a factual paper, detailing work needed to implement the Treaty of Amsterdam. The GAC welcomed progress so far, and called for a precise working timetable for the forthcoming months, so that the Council can regularly review preparations.

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The Council agreed a short report to the European Council on Common Strategies, the new foreign policy instrument to be introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty. It also recommended a short list of subjects for Common Strategies, for the European Council to consider.

The GAC agreed on a progress report for the Vienna European Council on developing a comprehensive EU policy towards Russia. They looked forward to receiving a proposal from the Commission on EU food aid for Russia. They underlined the importance of adequate control mechanisms for the delivery of aid. Ministers will review the implementation of food aid at future meetings.

The EU Declaration on 10 December reaffirms our commitment to speak up for the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human rights is high on Britain's foreign policy agenda. And the initiative my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has taken with Joschka Fischer—to publish an Annual EU Human Rights Report—has helped ensure that human rights is firmly on Europe's foreign policy agenda as well.

The GAC also had an informal orientation discussion on European defence, where partners welcomed my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's initiative at the Poertschach informal European Council, and the joint statement on principles agreed between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Chirac and Prime Minister Jospin at St. Malo.

The Council agreed to establish a task force on asylum and immigration. The task force will submit an initial report to the GAC by March 1999, and a further report on the results of its work before the Tampere Special European Council in October 1999. Coreper, in consultation with the K4 Committee, will consider precise terms of reference and submit them for Council approval by January 1999.

The Presidency presented two papers, on subsidiarity, and Council Working Methods. The subsidiarity paper is based on ideas raised at Poertschach, for example early application of the Amsterdam Treaty's subsidiarity proposal, and wider dissemination of the Commission's annual subsidiarity report. The Council Working Methods paper contains suggestions for improving efficiency, for example merging some Councils, better use of written procedures, restructuring agendas. Both papers were approved for transmission to the European Council.

The GAC welcomed the considerable progress made in the negotiations towards a bilateral EU/Switzerland agreement. They agreed Coreper should examine the Commission's proposal to resolve any outstanding concerns. The Presidency hoped it might be possible to reach political agreement by the Vienna European Council.

The GAC made a declaration calling on both sides in the Middle East Peace Progress to continue the implementation of the Wye Agreement in the face of violence and mutual recrimination which threaten the progress already made.

The Council adopted conclusions on Kosovo which called on both sides to respect the various relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, to refrain from violence, and engage actively in the negotiating process. The Council instructed officials to address the problem of reconstruction, calling for a report in time for the January 401W GAC. It condemned the FRY authorities' repression of the independent media, and agreed to impose a visa ban on the personalities responsible. It also instructed officials to consider ways to support the EU forensic mission to Kosovo.

The Council expressed its support for the reform process in Montenegro, and asked officials to consider the possibilities for further assistance.

The Council urged Croatia to intensify work to assist refugee return, media freedom and election law reform. On Bosnia and Herzegovina, it looked forward to the Madrid Peace Implementation Council; and welcomed the arrest by SFOR of General Krstic and his transfer to The Hague. It welcomed the formation of a new Government in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

On Albania the Council welcomed the peaceful course and outcome of the referendum on the constitution, which will be a fundamental element in the construction of a stable democracy. It deplored the boycott of the referendum and continued boycott of parliament by the Democratic Party and tasked the Council's competent bodies to recommend an adequate EU response.

Commissioner Pinheiro reported on the latest round of talks of a Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and South Africa. He had met with trade minister Erwin on 1 December. The Council had an exchange of views on the outstanding issues and agreed to review the situation at their next meeting.

Council agreed a revision of the Community's Generalised System of Preferences scheme. The review combines into one Regulation previously separate schemes covering agricultural and industrial products. The revision will enter into legal effect on January; its provisions will come into force on 1 July. We have argued strongly in favour of the changes.

Sir Leon Brittan gave an update on recent developments on the bananas discussion with the US. The Commission would continue to look for ways to solve the current impasse. The Member States took note with approval.

The Council noted with concern attacks on Christians during recent rioting in Indonesia, on which the Presidency had made a statement on 23 November. EU Heads of Mission in Jakarta had been asked to underline this concern with the Indonesian Government.

In the margins of the Council, the EU Troika held a political dialogue meeting on 8 December with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This was an opportunity for the new Government to describe the internal political situation, and for both sides to discuss bilateral relations, and the situation in Kosovo.