Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs, Development and Defence Ministers in Brussels
Government Communications Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Defense
Press Release 350/2008
7 November 2008
The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will meet on 10 and 11 November in Brussels. The main themes of the meeting will be the preparation for the December European Council, the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the development of military capabilities and development financing. Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies and Minister of European Affairs Astrid Thors will represent Finland at the meeting.
General affairs
The ministers will discuss the European Council meeting to be held in Brussels on 11 and 12 December. The Chairman will present a draft agenda for the European Council. The December European Council is to discuss the next steps of the Lisbon Treaty, the economic and financial situation, climate and energy issues along with the common agricultural policy. As for foreign and security policy, the focus will be on the Declaration on the European security and defence policy as well as the revised European Security Strategy.
External relations
The promotion of EU civilian capabilities will be discussed at the meeting. A lot of progress has been made in EU civilian crisis management recently. The crisis in Georgia, in particular, has proved that the EU is able to mobilise its civilian capabilities quickly and efficiently as necessary. In Finland’s view the development of civilian crisis management should focus on enhancing the EU’s planning resources, developing logistics and support services and speeding up procurement processes.
The Ministers will also discuss the alarming situation in eastern Congo. EU actions aim at alleviating especially the humanitarian situation. In addition, the EU has an important role in providing support to the political process.
The Council will present conclusions on the situation in Iraq, Burma and Lebanon, the dialogue and cooperation between the EU, China and Africa as well as the African-European partnership. Preparations and objectives for the EU-Russia summit will be addressed, and it is likely that in this context negotiations concerning the new Treaty between the EU and Russia will be touched upon as well.
Defence issues
The EU Defence Ministers will meet in connection with the Council meeting. The Defence Ministers will be presented with an overview of the space dimension of the European Security and Defence Policy as well as a report by Javier Solana, High Representative and Head of European Defence Agency, on the activities of the Agency. The Agency’s budget and guidelines for next year will be adopted. The Steering Board of the European Defence Agency will also hold a defence-minister-level meeting in connection with the Council.
The Defence Ministers will focus on issues relating to the development of military capabilities, such as developing the deployability of European multinational forces and maritime surveillance. At working lunch, they will discuss the EU operation in Chad and in the Central African Republic along with the upcoming first EU maritime mission to stop piracy off the Somalian coast.
The joint session of the Foreign and Defence Ministers will focus on the Western Balkans and Afghanistan. It will also adopt conclusions on the European Security and Defence Policy.
Development issues
The EU Development Ministers will discuss the EU’s position on the follow-up meeting to the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development taking place in Doha at the end of November. In Finland's view it is important that the dialogue on financing for development addresses sustainable development on a wide front and takes into account all three dimensions of development: the natural economic, economic and social. Favourable operating conditions and good governance are central to promoting economic development. Special attention should be paid to developing the private sector: countries with a strong private sector and a growing economy are better equipped to reduce poverty on a sustainable basis. Rural development and sustainable use of agricultural and renewable resources are also key issues in the dialogue on financing for development.
The Development Ministers will also discuss the regional integration of the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries along with the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements with these countries. Finland emphasises that regional integration is essential to the development of the ACP countries' economy and private sector, to their integration into the global economy as well as to the economic growth and the alleviation of poverty. In promoting regional integration, a flexible approach should be taken on the different needs and prevailing circumstances in the countries.
The ministers will discuss the effects of the food crisis on developing countries. The European Council is committed to intensifying EU support to public and private agricultural investments and increasing the proportion of agriculture in public development cooperation. The development of agriculture and rural means of livelihood is vital to enhancing food security on a sustainable basis.
In addition, the Development Ministers will discuss Afghanistan and eastern Congo and the financial situation's implications to developing countries.
Further information: Sanna Ek, Counsellor, EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2150, Markku Lampinen, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5330 or +358 40 7266 124; Development Ministers’ meeting: Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6272 or +358 40 7217 159; Defence Ministers’ meeting: Helena Partanen, Defence Counsellor, Ministry of Defense, tel. +358 9 1608 8135 or +358 50 358 6601