The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council to discuss the situation in Iran and the programme of the Italian EU Presidency
Government Information Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press release 209/2003
17 July 2003
The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council will hold its first meeting during the Italian EU Presidency on 21 July in Brussels. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister Paula Lehtomäki will represent Finland at the meeting.
In the context of external relations, the Council will discuss the situation in Iran and the Iranian nuclear programme. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, presented, on 19 June, the IAEA Board of Governors a report according to which Iran has neglected its obligations to report on nuclear material and nuclear energy related activities. Actual infringements of the agreement that would require the matter to be taken to the UN Security Council have not, however, been detected in this phase. Iran has ratified the Nuclear Ban Treaty and signed a full scope safeguards agreement with the IAEA. Iran has not, however, signed the IAEA's additional protocol that allows intensified monitoring and wider inspections. The IAEA Board of Governors advised Iran to tackle the problems discovered in the inspections and the country was urged to fully cooperate with the IAEA. The EU is of the opinion that Iran should sign the additional protocol without delay and without special conditions.
The Council will prepare the EU's negotiation strategy for the fifth ministerial level WTO meeting that will take place in Cancun, Mexico, on 10-14 September. The Cancun meeting is to conduct a mid-term review of the negotiations and provide guidance for further work. Key negotiation issues from the EU's point of view include agriculture, market entry of industrial products, services, trade and the environment, the so-called Singapore issues, the protection of intellectual property, in particular as regards geographical labelling, and the special treatment of developing countries. EU considers it important that the TRIPS and public health issue related to the availability of medicines in the developing countries will be resolved before the Cancun meeting. As regards the preparations for the WTO meeting, the Council will discuss a draft conclusion on the promotion of basic rights in working life.
The Council will discuss the situation in the Middle East and Iraq. The Middle East Peace Process has developed positively. The continuation of the ceasefire is of pivotal importance. As regards the launching of reconstruction in Iraq, the EU will aim to coordinate its aid. Finland is ready to contribute to the cooperation and to the UN-led assistance and reconstruction work in Iraq to stabilise the country in the post-war situation.
In addition, the Council will discuss the decision on extending the EU's Concordia crisis management operation in the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia to end on 15 December. Finland will participate in Concordia with ten peacekeepers and Finland supports the continuation of the operation. The Council will also discuss the situation in the Western Balkans, relations between the EU and Africa, the progress of the EU's Artemis crisis management operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the International Criminal Court.
In the context of general affairs, the Council will conduct an open discussion on the priorities of the Italian EU Presidency. Italy has defined five priority objectives: the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), European economy, European enlargement, Europe's presence in the world and issues relating to the security of citizens, including terrorism and the prevention of illegal immigration. The aforementioned priorities add focus on the objectives of the Council's operational programme for the duration of the Greek and Italian Presidencies.
Finland adopted its own objectives for the one-year programme of the Greek and Italian Presidencies on 20 November 2002 and considers the priorities defined by the Italian Presidency valuable as a whole. Finland emphasises that adequate time must be left for preparation of the work to be conducted under the Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial, head of state or government and civil servant level. The mandate of the IGC must be such that it allows, when necessary, a thorough re-discussion of contentual issues that are considered of central importance. There is no need to tighten the schedule set for the IGC at Thessaloniki.
The Italian Presidency has proposed the launching of a "European Action for Growth" to increase economic growth. Finland stresses that the Lisbon Strategy provides a sound basis for improving the Union's competitiveness and boosting its economic growth and that main emphasis should be placed on the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy in the agreed timetable. Public investments must not jeopardise the agreed commitments regarding stability.
Finland considers it important to deepen the cooperation between the EU and Russia on the basis of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the declaration issued at the St Petersburg Summit. Particular attention should be drawn to the improvement of maritime safety.
Further information: Lotta Lindegren, Senior Officer, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2150 or Anne Huhtamäki, Counsellor, Department for Europe, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6097 or 040 546 0456