The EU Member States to open the Intergovernmental Conference
Government Communications Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press release 199/2007
18.7.2007
In a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), in Brussels on 23 and 24 July, the EU Member States will open the Intergovernmental Conference. The Council meeting will also focus on issues concerning the Middle East and Kosovo. Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, Minister of European Affairs Astrid Thors and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will represent Finland at the GAERC meeting.
At the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), the Council is to adopt a statement on the reform of the EU Treaties. The first ministerial level IGC meeting will be held in conjunction with the Council meeting on Monday, 23 July. The meeting is not to debate Treaty contents but rather to provide the Member States with information on the Presidency’s timetable for negotiations. The Member States will receive a draft for the new Treaty.
The Council will also discuss the situation with regard to the status of Kosovo. The UN Security Council is currently negotiating on the possibility of issuing a new Resolution to resolve the status issue. In its June GAERC meeting, the EU expressed its support for President Ahtisaari’s proposal and hoped for an immediate agreement within the Security Council based on the new resolution.
The Council will discuss the current situation in the Palestinian territories, relations between Israel and the Palestinians, and the operational status of the EU and the Quartet. In its June meeting, the Council adopted conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process and Lebanon, emphasising the positive steps towards re-activating the peace process including the meetings between President Mahmud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Arab League's call for the restoration of peace. The Council also stated that it will restart the provision of direct financial support for the Palestinian government and that the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) will be extended for a further three months.
The Council will also focus on ways to improve the effectiveness of EU action in Sudan. Discussion will be based on a joint report produced by the Council Secretariat and the European Commission on the options for EU-level action. Particular consideration will be given to the possible ESDP mission in eastern Chad and possibly in the Central African Republic.
Other matters in external relations will include Iran, the WTO negotiations and the EU-Ukraine Summit scheduled to take place in September. On Sunday, 22 July, the EU Trade Ministers will meet for dinner.
On Monday afternoon, Ministers will hold a public debate on the fourth Cohesion Report issued by the European Commission in May. With the report, the Commission aims to direct discussion on the future guidelines for cohesion policy and on ways to promote the attainment of the Lisbon objectives by means of cohesion policy. Discussion on the future will officially be opened in conjunction with the fourth Cohesion Forum which will take place in Brussels on 27 and 28 September.
Discussion on the cohesion report can be followed at the Council website(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).
Further information: Jari Luoto, State Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 22180, and Stefan Lee, First Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 55438