The EU Foreign Ministers to discuss measures to be undertaken in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster
Government Information Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press release 23/2005
28 January 2005
The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meets in Brussels on 31 January. The main themes of the meeting will be the measures to be undertaken in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster and the Union's new financial framework. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja, will represent Finland at the meeting.
The Council is to adopt an EU Action Plan on the measures to be undertaken in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster. Finland supports the Presidency's comprehensive proposal for an Action Plan to improve the Union's efficiency in emergencies. The Union's crisis management capabilities should be rapidly exploitable. Particular importance must be placed on the work on the EU's rescue services and civil crisis management capabilities and on the development of civil preparedness for rapid action in emergencies. Finland considers it important that the EU develop its alarm, assistance and communications system as well as its consular services with regard to different emergencies.
The UN will be in a key role in the reconstruction of the tsunami-hit countries in Asia. In the planning of further measures, particular attention must be devoted to those who are in the weakest position to receive help, e.g. women and children. At the ASEAN Special Summit in Jakarta, 6 January 2005, the EU promised to contribute some 1.5 billion euros, of which some 500 million euros in the form of donations, for tsunami disaster aftercare.
The Foreign Ministers are to adopt the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan with regard to Ukraine. The Action Plan was finalised already in December 2004 but its final adoption was postponed due to the domestic policy situation in Ukraine which only now enables the implementation of the Plan. The Council will be submitted a proposal for an aid package prepared by the Commission and High Representative Javier Solana. The aim of the package is to support the reform objectives outlined by the new Ukrainian Government. The Council will continue discussion on the aid package in its February meeting. Finland supports rapid and efficient implementation of the Ukrainian Action Plan and the advancement of democracy development in Ukraine using the means offered by the Neighbourhood Policy.
In the context of external relations, the Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation in Iraq in the light of the elections to be held on 30 January. The Western Balkans, Middle East, follow-up to the EU-Africa Summit and the situation in Sudan will also be discussed.
The Foreign Ministers will discuss the Union's financial perspective for 2007-2013. Particular consideration is to be placed on cohesion policy. Finland's objective is that some 0.40% of the Union's GDP be allocated to cohesion policy. This is necessary for cohesion policy to cover, in a balanced manner, both problems faced in the weaker areas and regional and geographical problems, too. In Finland's opinion, changes in the Union's financial framework must not jeopardise the continuation of Union-wide regional and structural policies. Finland's unaltered aim remains that the country's scarcely populated Northern and Eastern regions must be kept within the scope of the Union's highest regional support.
The Presidency country will present the Foreign Ministers with the Council's working programme for the ongoing year that has been drafted jointly by Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. The most pivotal EU affairs this year include the Mid-Term Review of the Lisbon Strategy, Financial Framework, ratification and preparation of the implementation of the EU's Constitutional Treaty, launching the implementation of the new five-year Hague Programme in the field of Justice and Home Affairs and enlargement. The Commission will present its own working programme for 2005 and objectives for the next five-year period 2005-2009.
Further information: Antti Peltomäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2180, Hanna Lehtinen, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6358, and Anne Huhtamäki, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6097