EU Foreign Ministers prepare for European Council
Government Communications Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press Release 59/2007
2 March 2007
The EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council meets in Brussels on Monday 5 March. The main themes of the meeting will be preparations for the European Council in March and the situation in the Middle East. The meeting will be attended by Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.
The spring European Council will examine the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, begun in 2000, in the Member States and at Union level. The Strategy concerns the EU's competitiveness. In 2005 it was reviewed and its priority became the promotion of growth and employment.
The German Presidency is proposing that the European Council adopt the analysis of the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy in the Commission's progress report published in December 2006. The European Council should discuss further action, including ways of strengthening the internal market and competitiveness, investment in innovation and research and development, and steeping up employment and social cohesion. The proposals in the report for recommendations for individual countries will be set forth for approval by the European Council. Discussed too will be issues connected with more effective regulation.
Energy and climate are also firmly on the European Council's agenda. Subjects for discussion regarding energy policy are to include the development of the internal market in energy, increased security of supply, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. Regarding climate policy, the European Council will discuss particularly emission reduction targets. Finland supports the conclusions of the Environment Council in February that emission reduction targets should be endorsed by the European Council. Finland is emphasising the importance of basing the targets on a fair and agreed share of the burden within the EU.
In the area of foreign relations, the Council will discuss the formation of a new Palestinian Government. It is Finland's view that the EU and other actors should promote this move, as a new Government would be an important indication of national unity. The meetings between Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and the Palestinian President, Mahmud Abbas, have been positive steps forward, and more should be encouraged.
The Council will also be discussing Iran's nuclear programme. The report of 22 February by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran had breached UN Security Council Resolution 1737. If, however, Iran starts to comply with the UN and IAEA resolutions, the EU is prepared to continue talks on the country's nuclear programme. Finland is of the opinion that no acceptable military alternative exists to resolve the situation.
There will be discussions too on Sudan and the EU's financial support for the AMIS peacekeeping operation in Darfur organised by the African Union. The EU is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur, which is hampering humanitarian aid work. The EU is looking at alternatives for continued funding of the AMIS operation. The gradual acceptance of responsibility on the part of the UN for personnel and material aid is slowly resulting in less need for EU assistance. Meanwhile, however, AMIS needs cash for the African Union to increase the number of troops they can send to the region. The EU is planning to support AMIS with European Development Fund money. But bilateral aid from the Member States is also needed. The EU and its Member States have so far given approximately EUR 400 million to AMIS.
On the agenda too are the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and relations between the EU and Uzbekistan.
Further information: Jari Luoto, State Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2180, and First Secretary Stefan Lee, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5438