The EU Foreign Ministers discuss the situation in Iraq and the Western Balkans

Government Information Unit
Ministry for Foreing Affairs

Press release 49/2005
18 February 2005





The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meets in Brussels on 21 February. The main themes of the meeting will be Iraq, the Western Balkans and the new financial frameworks. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for European Affairs Paula Lehtomäki will represent Finland at the meeting.

The Ministers will discuss the situation in Iraq after the elections. The political process for the election of the President, Prime Minister and Government will begin now that the result of the general election is confirmed. The most important task facing the Iraqi Parliament is the drafting of a new Constitution to the country. The EU supports the development of a unified, stable and democratic Iraq. Finland hopes the Iraqi Parliament will work in a consistent manner and that political parties aim at constructive cooperation to guarantee a peaceful future in the country. Finland underlines the role of the UN in the process and supports the planned EU training operation that aims at promoting the development of the rule of law in Iraq. In Finland, preparations are underway to provide expert assistance to support the Iraqi police and rule of law in the country as part of joint EU activities. The training is to begin in summer 2005.

The Foreign Ministers will also discuss the situation in Kosovo and Croatia in the Western Balkans. Sören Jessen-Petersen, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of UNMIK, will be a special guest at the Council meeting. Defining the future position of Kosovo is one of the challenges that need to be addressed. Finland strongly supports civil operations and the military crisis operation, KFOR. The Council is also likely to discuss Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the light of opening EU membership negotiations with Croatia. The Presidency country has received a statement by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICTY, Carla del Ponte, on Croatia's cooperation with the Criminal Tribute. Certain problems have arisen as regards the handover of General Ante Gotovina, a suspect of war crimes, to the Tribunal. Finland considers it important that the EU consistently adhere to the jointly agreed policies with regard to the Tribunal and the EU assess Croatia's cooperation on the basis of the Tribunal's statement.

The meeting will also discuss EU funding to the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, countries. The intention is to inform the ACP countries about the level of EU funding in the post 2007 era. The current EU funding to the ACP countries through the European Development Fund is 0.031 of GDP in the EU-15. Finland's opinion is that the aid to the ACP countries must be maintained at least at the current level.

The Foreign Ministers will also prepare a visit of the US President, George W. Bush, to the European Union on 22 February and a meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers with the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. The Council will also discuss the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan with regard to the Ukraine. Other items on the agenda will include the EU's support to the Belo-Russian civil society and democratisation process and, in the context of Africa, an overview of the situation in Sudan and the Great Lakes region.

In their discussions on the EU's new financial frameworks for 2007-2013, the Foreign Ministers will devote particular consideration to the heading on competitiveness policy. Finland considers the Commission's objectives with regard to the competitiveness heading justifiable but they require clearer allocation. The current resources available do not enable the implementation of all the objectives identified by the Commission. In addition, Finland considers that the Commission's proposal to increase total allocations under the heading by more than 200% is clearly oversized although the proportional share of competitiveness appropriations is to increase during the next financial period. Finland also underlines that the main emphasis under the heading must be placed on R&D and the promotion of SMEs and innovations.

The Presidency will present the agenda of the March European Council to the Foreign Ministers. The main themes of the meeting will be the Mid-Term Review of the Lisbon Strategy and revision of the Stability and Growth Pact. The European Council is also to have a preliminary discussion on the reform of the Strategy for Sustainable Development and key international issues.

Further information: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2182 and Anne Huhtamäki, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6097 and Leena Aalto, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5330