The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg: Accession Treaty of Bulgaria and Romania to be signed

Government Information Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Press release 129/2005
22 April 2004

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will convene in Luxembourg on 25 April. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki will represent Finland at the GAERC meeting.

In connection with the Council meeting, the Accession Treaty of Bulgaria and Romania will be signed. After signing the Accession Treaty, Bulgaria and Romania will have observer status in EU institutions. This enables participation of these countries in the preparation of EU decisions and measures and in the discussion in the Council. Although observers are not entitled to vote, this procedure gives these countries an opportunity to influence issues that are important to them. Bulgaria and Romania are to become members of the Union on 1 January 2007.

In the context of external relations, discussion will be initiated regarding communications and reports on the further measures in the EU action plan that concerns the earthquake and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. A more profound discussion on the issue is planned for the Council meeting in May. The Commission has surveyed the mechanisms of rescue services and the Union’s ability to mobilise rescue and aid operations both within the EU and elsewhere in the world. In addition, early warning systems, rebuilding and the strengthening of cooperation in rescue and aid operations will be assessed.

The Foreign Ministers will also prepare the EU-Russia Summit to be organised in Moscow on 10 May. The aim of the Summit is to reach a well-balanced package of the “Road Maps” to create common spaces in the framework of cooperation between the EU and Russia. Negotiations will continue on flights over Siberia, on which the EU has proposed a gradual removal of the charges by 2013. In addition, issues related to readmission agreements and facilitating the visa procedure will be negotiated in the beginning of May.

As regards Western Balkans, the Commission has released a favourable Feasibility Study, based on which a decision is to be made on launching the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia and Montenegro. Finland’s opinion is that the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement can be initiated. Finland emphasises, however, that the implementation of reforms in the country must continue. In addition, Serbia and Montenegro are to continue cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) until all obligations are fulfilled. Discussion will also concern Kosovo. The Commission adopted a Communication on 20 April concerning the future of Kosovo including the Commission’s proposals on the future development of EU policy and activities. The Communication will be presented to the Ministers.

The Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, too. As far as Sudan is concerned, sanctions may be proposed and a common position concerning the arms ban adopted. Also a situation report on the Zimbabwe situation after the parliamentary election will be presented. The Council is to adopt a common EU information and aid operation related to a reform in the security sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The operation is to be launched in May with a small group of people in the beginning.

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council will continue the discussion on the new Financial Perspective 2007-2013. The Presidency is to present a new version of the “negotiating box” prepared on the basis of discussions held in March and April. The negotiating box will provide a basis and a framework for the discussions. The aim is to reach a political agreement on the preparation of the new financial perspectives at the June European Council in 2005.

Before the Council meeting, an informal meeting of Trade Ministers will be organised on 24 April in Luxembourg. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki will attend the meeting. The main issues of the meeting include a situation report on the WTO negotiation round, special and differential treatment of developing countries in the WTO, bilateral trade relations of the EU with the United States and Russia in the light of future summits and impacts of the entry into force of the textile agreement.

Further information: Anne Huhtamäki, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6097, Marja Kuosmanen, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5538, and Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2182