ASEM cooperation on the agenda for EU foreign ministers
Government Information Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press release 275/2004
10 September 2004
The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council will be meeting in Brussels on 13-14 September. The meting will discuss a number of issues including ASEM cooperation and the new financial framework for the Union. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Erkki Tuomioja, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The Council intends to put the finishing touches to a set of conclusions concerning Asia-Europe (ASEM) cooperation. A preliminary proposal on ASEM enlargement and the preparatory work for the ASEM summit, to be held in Hanoi on 8 October, was arrived at in an unofficial meeting of foreign ministers earlier in September. In addition to the new EU Member States, Vietnam, Kampuchea (Cambodia) and Myanmar (Burma) have been proposed as new members of ASEM. However, if no progress has been made on political and human rights issues in Myanmar by the beginning of the Hanoi summit, to bring them into line with the conditions agreed by the EU in the spring, the EU plans to strengthen its sanctions policy against Myanmar. Moreover, the EU will consider increasing aid to democratic groups in Myanmar and to the education and health sector.
The foreign ministers will also discuss the situation in Iraq and funding for the work of the UN security forces, among other issues. The EU medium-term Iraq strategy approved in the summer provides a basis for engagement and dialogue. Between November and January, the UN intends to move into Iraq on a larger scale to prepare for the parliamentary elections that are to be held there in January. Finland believes it to be important for the EU to support a UN presence in Iraq and is in favour of EU funding for the work of the UN security forces.
The ministers will also discuss the Darfur situation in Sudan. The Council will assess the extent to which Sudan has fulfilled the obligations of UN Security Council Resolution 1556, especially with regard to enabling humanitarian aid to reach its destination and to disarmament. The time limit given in the Resolution has now expired, and the Council will discuss any further action that may be necessary. With regard to external affairs issues, the Council will also discuss the African Great Lakes region, the situation in Iran and developments in Belarus prior to the parliamentary elections there.
The foreign ministers will discuss the future financial framework for the Union for the period 2007-2013. The Presidency intends to present a timetable and an approach for the autumn proceedings. Finland supports the Presidency's aim of making good progress with the negotiations during the autumn. It is important that a political consensus should be reached on the financial framework in summer 2005. Finland takes the view that it is essential to consider the content of the new financial framework and an overhaul of the EU financial system at one and the same time.
The Council also intends to take a decision about the people to be appointed by the Council as members of the Commission for the term of office beginning on 1 November 2004. The European Parliament has still to approve the Commission President and the other members of the Commission as a whole.
Further information: Jari Luoto, State Under Secretary for EU Affairs, EU Secretariat, Prime Minister's Office tel. +358 9 1602 2182, and Anne Huhtamäki, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6097 or +358 40 546 0456