EU General Affairs Council (Hansard, 19 November 1998)

§ Ms Quin

The General Affairs Council in Brussels on 9-10 November adopted the A points listed in document 12595/98 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 19 October to 23 October and listed in document 11727/98. Copies of the documents listing the A points and resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.

On 10 November the EU held successful ministerial meetings of the Accession Conferences with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The Conferences opened substantive negotiations at ministerial level and marked another milestone in the accession process. Association Councils with Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic were also held on 10 November.

The GAC reviewed progress in the Agenda 2000 negotiation. Many Member States called for an increase in the pace of negotiation, in particular on the Common Agricultural Policy. The Foreign Secretary called for more progress on CAP reform. Subject to the general rule that no element in the package can be agreed finally until there is agreement on the package as a whole, there was widespread agreement in principle to the Commission's draft pre-accession instruments, though Spain maintained a reserve. The Presidency said that there would be a conclave of Foreign Ministers on 6 December. There was also discussion of a number of detailed aspects of structural funding.

The Commission presented its progress reports on the candidate countries, in advance of discussion at the Vienna European Council.

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The Council discussed the humanitarian situation in Russia and agreed that, should Russia formally request food aid from the EU, the Council would examine urgently a Commission proposal on that basis. The Council will discuss a further report on EU policy and assistance to Russia at the 7 December GAC.

The Commission presented two draft regulations on funding the European Strategy for Turkey. The Presidency remitted the proposals for further discussion in Coreper.

The Commission explained progress on the EU/Switzerland negotiations. Ministers urged continued efforts by both sides towards early agreement. The 7 December General Affairs Council may consider this further.

Ministers had an exchange of views on the Middle East Peace Process with EU Special Envoy Miguel Moratinos present, following the Wye River memorandum. They underlined the importance of the speedy implementation of the Memorandum, the need to avoid unilateral acts, and the need for progress on all tracks of the peace process. The Council condemned in the strongest terms the recent acts of terrorism and urged the Parties to do their utmost both to forestall extremist actions and to deny success to extremists seeking by provocation to frustrate the peace process. Ministers also confirmed EU support for a significant political and economic EU contribution to the implementation of the Wye Memorandum.

On Kosovo, the Council reiterated its expectation that all parties, the FRY security forces and the armed Kosovo Albanian groups, comply fully with recent UN Security Council Resolutions. It repeated its support for the Kosovo Verification Mission, which should be fully operational as soon as possible, and underlined the need for an early start to political negotiations, with the EU's active involvement. It also condemned the action taken by the FRY authorities to prevent the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Louise Arbour, and her team from fulfilling their mission in Kosovo, as well as their recent crackdown on the independent media.

The Council emphasised the EU's continued commitment to support Albania. It welcomed the successful holding of the International Conference in Tirana on 30 October. The Council repeated the call in the EU's recent declaration to the Democratic Party to participate in the 22 November referendum on the constitution. It welcomed the WEU recommendations on assistance to ensure a viable police force in Albania and confirmed the Union's intention to reinforce its contribution to the re-establishment of such a force.

The Council reviewed the continuing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and its implications for the stability of the Great Lakes region. It agreed that the immediate priorities were the cessation of hostilities; the withdrawal of foreign troops; and all-party negotiations aimed at achieving a political settlement as soon as possible. It stressed the need to respect human rights and humanitarian law. It instructed officials to recommend how the EU could help further, in particular to stem the trafficking in small arms in the region.

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At the UK's request, Ministers discussed the situation in Iraq and agreed a declaration emphasising support for UNSCR 1205 and condemning as totally unacceptable Iraq's decision to cease co-operation with UNSCOM.

The Presidency reported on the meeting of EU Defence Ministers on 3-4 November.