APPENDIX: REPORTS ON COUNCIL MEETINGS
HELD DURING A RECESS
When the House is sitting, Departments make written
Statements after each meeting of the Council of Ministers reporting
on the Council meeting and on the activities of UK Ministers in
it. However, for Council meetings taking place when the House
is in recess we ask Departments to write to us instead. Replies
concerning meetings during the summer recess are published below.
INFORMAL MEETING OF EU
FOREIGN MINISTERS ("GYMNICH"), 4-5 SEPTEMBER
Letter to the Chairman from the Parliamentary
Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Chris
Bryant MP)
I am writing to inform you of the outcome of the
informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers ('Gymnich') that took
place in Stockholm on 4 and 5 September. My Right Honourable
Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(Mr. David Miliband) represented the UK.
The agenda items were as follows:
Middle East
High Representative Solana briefed Ministers on his
recent visit to the region. He stressed the importance of the
MEPP in general, noting there was a window of opportunity where
the EU had a role to play, particularly in support of US efforts
to prepare the ground for settlement negotiations. The Foreign
Secretary agreed, and said that the EU needed to give clear political
messages to both the Israelis and Palestinians. Many Ministers
noted the need for EU unity and all agreed that the EU should
support the US.
Iran
The Presidency introduced the discussion with a recap
of developments over the summer concerning the trials of locally
engaged staff from EU Member States' embassies and a French national.
Ministers also discussed the political situation following the
elections and the nuclear issue. The Foreign Secretary thought
the result of the elections had been counterproductive for EU
efforts to engage with Iran, not least on the nuclear issue. Ministers
will resume the discussion at the 14/15 September GAERC.
Afghanistan/Pakistan
The Presidency (Bildt) briefed Ministers on his recent
visit to Afghanistan and gave his assessment of the Presidential
elections. He said that the EU should continue its planning to
offer a more concerted contribution to international efforts.
Several Ministers welcomed draft proposals on the nature of that
contribution, but noted that these would need to be worked up
in greater detail, with a view to further discussion at a GAERC
later in the autumn. Spain said they would be willing to host
a second EU-Pakistan Summit (following up the June 2009 Summit),
which the Government welcomes.
Europe as a Global Actor
The Presidency introduced proposals for matching
the EU's foreign policy resources, including institutions and
funding for ESDP missions, more closely with its strategic priorities.
Several Member States supported these proposals strongly. It was
agreed that Ministers would return to the issue at a GAERC later
in the autumn.
Session with candidate countries
The candidate countries (Croatia, Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia and Turkey) joined EU Ministers for a wide-ranging
discussion of their neighbouring regions. The Commission commented
on the candidates' prospects of EU membership ahead of the enlargement
report in October. The candidates updated Ministers on progress
with reforms required by the EU and wider regional issues.
The Turkish Foreign Minister gave a broad presentation
of Turkey's engagement in the wider Middle East, the Southern
Caucasus and the Balkans, including recent moves towards rapprochement
with Armenia.
EU Foreign Ministers agreed on the importance of
enlargement for security and stability in the European neighbourhood.
Ministers agreed that the EU had a joint interest in stabilising
the Western Balkan region but voiced concern about the lack of
progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Presidency summed up by
expressing the hope that substantial progress would be made by
all Western Balkan countries towards accession in the near future.
9 September 2009
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