General Affairs Council (Hansard, 16 July 1998)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

See below.

A General Affairs Council was held in Brussels on 13 July. The Council agreed the 37 A Points listed in document 10255/98 and noted the European Parliament's Resolutions, Decisions and Opinions taken at its part sessions in Strasbourg on 15–19 June and 1–2 July, and listed in documents 9471/98 and 9533/98. Copies of both these documents will be placed in the House Library as soon as they become available.

The Council endorsed the Austrian Presidency's handling plan and timetable for the Agenda 2000 package.

Over lunch Ministers discussed the working methods of the General Affairs Council.

The mandates for negotiations with Norway and Iceland over their continued involvement with Schengen after entry into force of Amsterdam were briefly discussed. A few points remain to be settled; but the presidency made clear that it would aim for the adoption of the mandates before the summer.

Ministers condemned the violation by Belarus of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in its actions against Ambassadors' residences in Drozdy. As a signal of the seriousness with which it took the situation, the EU had already adopted a Common Position imposing an entry visa ban on all members of the Government and senior officials of the Republic of Belarus. The Council expressed its determination to adopt further measures should further violations of the Vienna Convention occur. It will continue to monitor the situation in Minsk and demanded concrete proposals from the Belarus authorities. The EU hoped that early action by the Belarusian Government to respect fully the Vienna Convention would enable a return to the status quo ante and facilitate the development of the more 47WA constructive EU/Belarus relationship which the EU wished.

The Council expressed its grave concern at the continuing violence and loss of life in Kosovo, particularly among the civilian population. The danger of a rapid widening of the crisis remains. The Council reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and the restart of a political process, with direct international involvement, between the parties. The Kosovo Albanian team for these talks must be able to speak authoritatively and therefore be fully representative of their community. The Council accordingly called on the leaders within the Kosovo Albanian community to unite and to make common cause to this end.

The Council recalled that a solution for Kosovo can be found neither through the maintenance of the status quo nor through independence, but through a special status, including a large degree of autonomy within the FRY. The Council welcomed the intention of the Contact Group to set in hand work, to which the EU is actively contributing, to define possible further elements for the future status of Kosovo with a view to making them available to the parties. It emphasised that international involvement in the dialogue remains an essential element of credible negotiations.

The Council discussed the situation in Albania. It strongly encouraged the government of Prime Minister Nano to follow a policy of restraint and moderation in the Kosovo crisis, which is now more necessary than ever. It expressed its concern about the flow of arms from northern Albania to Kosovo Albanian armed groups. It called on all political organisations in Albania to support the policy of the Albanian government and to associate themselves with the line taken by the European Union on the Kosovo issue. At the same time it called upon the Albanian government to increase its efforts to stop the flow of weapons from Albania to Kosovo.

The Council was encouraged by General Abubakar's commitment to national reconciliation leading to the restoration of democratic civilian rule in Nigeria and his decision to release a significant number of detainees. The Council urged General Abubakar to release all the remaining detainees and to announce his plans for the electoral process. It reiterated EU's readiness to support an inclusive political process.

The Council heard a report on the EU Troika Ambassadors' visit to East Timor from 27–30 June. It paid tribute to the way the members of the troika handled the difficult situation which arose and agreed that their report and conclusions should continue to be followed up by the competent Council bodies.

The Council discussed the situation in Guinea Bissau and agreed that there was a need for humanitarian assistance and the opening of corridors for it to be delivered. It stressed the need for political and diplomatic solution to the problems and agreed that the EU should commit itself to a reconstruction programme on the basis of democratic conditions and the maintenance of the elections planned for this year and next.

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The Council adopted conclusions inviting COREPER and the Commission to solve rapidly the problems emerging from the European Court of Justice's recent judgment on spending without a legal base.

The Council expressed the hope that the conference nearing its conclusion in Rome would result in agreement to establish a credible International Criminal Court.

The UK and seven EU partners drew the Council's attention to a joint statement deploring the Commission's decision to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of unbleached cotton fabric from six non-EU countries.

The first EU-Tunisia Association Council was held on 14 July, following the entry into force of the EU/Tunisia Association Agreement earlier this year. A dinner with the Tunisian Foreign Minister was held on 13 July. Ministers welcomed the new agreement, as part of wider moves towards a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by 2010, and discussed issues of common interest including developments in the Middle East Peace Process, human rights, and inward investment.

The inaugural Co-operation Council under the terms of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA), between the EU and Moldova took place on 14 July. Over a working breakfast, Ministers had an exchange of views on foreign policy issues of mutual interest (including the situation in Transdniestra) and EU/Moldova relations. The Council itself exchanged views on the implementation of the PCA and adopted the Rules of Procedure establishing the foundations for the future work on the Co-operation Council and Committee, as well as the Joint Work Programme for 1998–99.

The first EU/Mexico Joint Council was held on 14 July. It renewed the EU and Mexico's shared commitment to closer ties, including through the substantial and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in goods and services.