Letter from the Minister of State for
Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman of the
Committee
I am sending this letter to highlight the UK's
Presidency priorities for the General Affairs and External Relations
Council (GAERC) and to include a brief forward look of the work
expected to be taken forward and discussed at the 3 October GAERC.
This GAERC falls during recess (21 July to 10 October).
We have, as do all incoming Presidencies, to
continue work on all pending business. That is a heavy workload
at any time, but we also have to take on the EU budget negotiations
("Future Financing") after the inconclusive outcome
of the European Council on 16-17 June. The Prime Minister has
made clear that we take our Presidency responsibilities seriously
and will seek to make progress towards agreement during our Presidency.
In the first instance, we will be conducting bilateral consultations
with the other 24 Member States and the two Accession States to
ascertain their views on the future financing of the Union and
on how we should take forward the negotiations. We will consider
next steps in the light of those consultations. Much wider than
that, and building on the Prime Minister's speech to the European
Parliament on 23 June, we also want to use this period of reflection
for public debate about the future political and economic direction
of the EU. The Prime Minister announced on 1 July 2005 that we
will host an informal Summit in the autumn to discuss the challenges
for the European social model in the 21st Century.
The main policy priorities for the UK Presidency
reflect the issues identified in the cross-Presidency Multi-annual
Strategic Programme for 2004-06 published in December 2003, the
Luxembourg-UK work programme published in December 2004, and the
White Paper on prospects for the EU under the UK Presidency published
in June 2005. All three papers are in the Libraries of the House.
In the field of external relations, including CFSP, the UK Presidency
hopes to take forward:
DOHA DEVELOPMENT
AGENDA
The WTO Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in
December 2005 will aim to take forward the current round of trade
talks. The WTO Round is an important priority for the EU. Our
objective is to conclude the Round by 2006, and to this end, we
need to make progress in the lead up to the Hong Kong Ministerial.
We have scheduled two informal EU trade ministers' meetings during
our Presidency, where the WTO Round will be on the agenda. We
will work with our EU Partners, the EU institutions and other
WTO members to achieve a successful outcome at Hong Kong.
AFRICA/G8
The Summit at Gleneagles produced the most detailed
and ambitious package on Africa ever agreed by the G8. We will
now be looking to implement these commitments, including through
our EU Presidency. At the Summit, heads agreed to strengthen the
Africa Partnership Forum, including by establishing an Action
Plan between all the major donors and Africa. The June European
Council asked for a long-term strategy for Africa to be agreed
at the December 2005 European Council. We will be working with
our EU partners to produce this, and look forward in particular
to the Commission's Communication which is due to come out in
October.
On aid, the G8 agreed that the commitments made
before and at the Summit would increase aid to Africa by $25 billion
a year over 2004 levels by 2010 (a doubling), as part of a wider
package to increase overall aid by $50 billion a year by the same
date. The EU agreement at the May GAERC to double aid to Africa
clearly set the bar high and shows the EU making a leading contribution.
We will be working to implement these commitments. We will also
continue discussions on innovative finance mechanisms with our
Partners. On debt, the G8 agreed a proposal to cancel 100% of
the debts of qualifying countries to the International Development
Association (IDA), the IMF and African Development Fund. European
Partners welcomed the proposal at the Council Meeting of 16-17
June. We will now work to secure agreement for the proposal at
the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in September.
PEACE, STABILITY
AND REFORM
IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
The EU will continue to work with the US and
other international Partners to play a major role in the Middle
East, in particular as a member of the Quartet for the Middle
East Peace Process. The EU will continue to play, through the
Quartet, a key role in supporting the Palestinian Authority's
efforts at institutional reform and Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement
plan. Stronger Palestinian institutions and a successful disengagement
are necessary for Roadmap implementation.
IRAQ
During the UK Presidency, we will be looking
for the EU to continue to increase its engagement with Iraq. In
particular, for the EU to continue to support the political transitional
process, including for the constitutional process, elections,
referendum and subsequent elections. We also want to build up
the current EU Rule of Law and Police Training mission, including
moving towards some training being undertaken in Iraq; to lay
the foundations for negotiations to commence on a Third Country
Agreement to increase EU/Iraq political and trade cooperation;
and see the Commission establish a permanent presence in Iraq.
EUROMED
SUMMIT
The Presidency will use the 10th anniversary
of the Barcelona Process, on 27-28 November 2005, to deepen the
EU's partnership with the Mediterranean region, supporting reform
efforts. We want Partners to endorse at the EuroMed Summit a Declaration
and an outcomes-orientated Action Plan (AP) which meets our Arab
Reform objectives. We hope that the Action Plan contains medium-term
targets in key areas including governance, education and economic
reform.
RUSSIA AND
UKRAINE
The EU will continue to build its partnership
with Russia. The UK Presidency will take this forward in a way
that is based on common European values and reflective of the
EU's interests in the common neighbourhood. Events in Ukraine
last year marked a watershed for democracy there. The UK Presidency
will continue to develop the EU's relationship with Ukraine on
the basis agreed earlier this year, reflecting Ukraine's progress
in implementing reform. The Prime Minister will chair Summit meetings
with both Russia and Ukraine.
UN MILLENNIUM REVIEW
SUMMIT
The Summit will take place on 14-16 September.
We are strongly committed to a balanced and ambitious Summit outcome
to enable the UN to comprehensively tackle today's inter-related
challenges of development, security and human rights. As Presidency
we will further co-ordinate the EU's contribution to Summit preparations.
EU-CHINA AND
EU-INDIA SUMMITS
As Presidency we are working towards a successful
EU-China Summit on 5 September and EU-India Summit on 7 September,
both of which the Prime Minister will chair. The focus for the
EU-China Summit will be on long-term objectives such as a timetable
for negotiating a new EU/China framework agreement. We also hope
to agree to strengthen and deepen co-operation on climate-friendly
technologies. The key output of the EU-India Summit will be the
launch of a comprehensive Action Plan which covers key objectives
across the range of our strategic partnership over the next 10
years—from counter-terrorism work to cooperation in the
fields of science and technology.
ENLARGEMENT
As Presidency we will work to deliver on the
EU's existing enlargement commitments. This includes: continuing
preparations for Bulgarian and Romanian accession due in January
2007; opening accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October;
and opening accession negotiations with Croatia as soon as it
is cooperating fully with the International Criminal Tribunal
for Yugoslavia. We will also take forward consideration of Macedonia's
membership application once the Commission have issued an opinion.
We will also consider Commission papers on agreeing a Stabilisation
and Association Agreement with Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
WESTERN BALKANS
The Presidency will take forward the EU's clear
commitment to the further European integration of the Western
Balkan countries as they move towards meeting the necessary political
and economic criteria. In particular we hope to develop the EU's
role in support of the UN's work to create a stable and multi-ethnic
Kosovo, and encourage further moves on the part of Serbia and
Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to justify the opening of
Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations during our
Presidency.
COUNTER-TERRORISM
AND SECURITY
Counter-terrorism was already a Presidency priority
prior to 7 July. But the Emergency JHA Council of 13 July saw
a renewed commitment from all Member States to deliver the EU's
Counter-Terrorism action plan and to work to more ambitious deadlines.
As Presidency we are encouraging Member States to enhance their
own national efforts, to work more closely together and through
EU bodies, and to enhance co-operation with other countries, in
the fight against terrorism, within the framework of the Hague
Work Programme and the Counter-Terrorism Action Plan. The UK Presidency
will also take forward work to reinforce security within and outside
the EU, focusing on organised crime and illegal immigration.
EUROPEAN SECURITY
AND DEFENCE
POLICY
The UK Presidency will continue to develop an
active, coherent and capable ESDP. We will ensure the effective
management of the EUFOR Bosnia mission, the policing missions
in Bosnia, Macedonia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
the security sector reform mission also in DRC, and the training
mission for Iraq. We will deliver the EU's commitments to support
the African Union mission in Darfur, working closely with NATO,
and look at potential missions in Aceh, Palestine and Georgia.
We will also drive forward work on civil-military co-ordination,
which is both the most needed capability in many security crises
today and an area where, with its wide range of instruments, the
EU has the potential to take a leading role. Finally, through
further development of the EU Battlegroups initiative, the European
Defence Agency and the Civilian Headline Goal, we will continue
to focus on improving European capability to take action either
within NATO or, where NATO chooses not to take part, without it.
THE EU'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE US
Within a wider framework of a renewed transatlantic
agenda, strengthening the economic partnership will be a particular
priority for the Presidency.
OCTOBER GAERC
At present, the General Affairs and External
Relations Council (GAERC) will meet on 18 July, 3 October, 7 November,
21-22 November, and 12 December.
On current plans, key priorities at the 3 October
GAERC will be Turkey (the opening of negotiations has been scheduled
for 3 October), Financial Perspectives 2007-13 (a continuation
of the debate on the EU's long term budget), Western Balkans (appointment
of an EU member to the UN envoy's team), Afghanistan (elections
to be held on 18 September), and preparation for the EU-Russia
Summit on 6 October and the EU-Ukraine Summit in w/b 17 October.
The following items may feature for political
agreement or adoption as "A" points:
— Belarus—restrictive measures
(renewal of the Common Position imposing a travel ban).
— ICTY—asset freeze against indictees
(renewal of the Common Position).
— ESDP—EU COPPS (new Joint Action
to establish an ESDP mission—dependent on the outcome of
a fact finding mission).
— ESDP—Aceh (new Joint Action—dependent
on the outcome of a fact finding mission).
— ESOP—EIJPM (renewal of the
Joint Action).
— ESDP—EUPOL Kinshasa (renewal
of the Joint Action).
— Turkey—Commission Communication
Strategy.
— Small Arms and Light Weapons in Cambodia
(renewal of the Joint Action).
— Small Arms and Light Weapons in SE
Europe (renewal of the Joint Action).
— Small Arms and Light Weapons in Albania
(renewal of the Joint Action).
— Organisation for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons (renewal of the Joint Action) Palestinian
refugees (renewal of the Common Position).
The EU Foreign Ministers informal (Gymnich)
will take place on 1-2 September in Newport, Wales. The agenda
has yet to be agreed. I will provide the EU Committees with further
information on Gymnich discussions after the event.
I look forward to working with your Committee
during the UK Presidency of the EU. The Government recognises
the important role of your Committee in relation to the Presidency
and sees your Committee, and Parliament more widely, as holding
a key stake in the Presidency and its success. The Government
also recognises that examination of Presidency priorities will
place an extra burden on the Committee and is grateful for the
Committee's willingness to undertake this important role. It is
important for me to remain in close contact with your Committee,
as efficient working between the FCO and Parliament will be crucial
in delivering a business-like, professional Presidency that enhances
the UK's reputation among our European and global Partners.
I have written in similar terms to Jimmy Hood
MP, Chairman of the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee,
and to Lord Grenfell, Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee
on the European Union. I am copying this letter to the Clerks
of both Committees; James Eke, FCO Scrutiny Coordinator; Philip
Kendall, FCO Parliamentary Relations Coordinator; and to the Cabinet
Office European Secretariat.
Douglas Alexander MP
Minister of State for Europe
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
28 July 2005
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