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EU Presidency: GAERC

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): A General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) was held on 7 November in Brussels. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary (Mr. Jack Straw) and the Minister for Europe (Douglas Alexander) chaired the council as presidency. The Minister for Europe also represented the UK on certain agenda items.

The agenda items were covered as follows:

Report on Informal Heads of State/Government meeting (Hampton Court, 27 October 2005)

The presidency presented the six remits from Hampton Court: research and development, universities, demographic challenge, energy, migration, and the common foreign and security policy/European security and defence policy (CFSP/ESDP). The Commission said that it would take forward the first five remits, in consultation with the current and future presidencies. The high representative, in association, where appropriate, with the presidency, the future presidency and the European Commission, agreed to take forward work in the area of CFSP/ESDP.
 
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World Trade Organisation (WTO)/Doha Development Agenda (DDA) Following up the extensive GAERC discussion and agreed conclusions of 18 October, Commissioner Mandelson updated the council on the state of play in the DDA negotiations in the light of its recent conditional offer and forthcoming meetings among WTO members. The Commission confirmed that it was continuing to act within its mandate and would continue to ensure that the council was fully informed of developments in the negotiations. The council also agreed, as an A point, conclusions noting support for Saudi accession to the WTO.

Financial Perspectives 2007–13 The council exchanged views on the EU's budget for 2007–13 and identified the areas that will need to be addressed in order for the presidency to reach an agreement at the 15–16 December European Council: (i) the structure of EU spending; (ii) modernising the budget, including a timetable for review; and (iii) the system of EU own resources. The presidency concluded that work on those areas should continue and that it would return to the issue at the 21–22 November GAERC.

Belarus The presidency introduced the item noting the deteriorating situation on human rights and political freedoms in Belarus. High Representative Solana underlined the difficulty faced by the EU in trying to bring about reform. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner agreed, noting the efforts to realign aid towards support for civil society. A large number of delegations expressed concern at the deteriorating situation and highlighted the need to intensify contact and support to civil society. The council also noted the importance of free and fair presidential elections in 2006 and called for the Belarusian Government to issue an early invitation to an OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission. The council expressed willingness to take appropriate restrictive measures against responsible individuals in the event of a failure to uphold international standards. Council conclusions were agreed that committed the council to a further GAERC discussion in January 2006.

Kosovo Over lunch, the council held a discussion with Martti Ahtisaari, the UN Secretary-General's future Kosovo status envoy. Ahtisaari welcomed EU involvement in the status process and gave an initial indication of how he intended to take forward his mandate. He also flagged the importance of addressing Kosovo's poor economic situation. High Representative Solana nominated Stefan Lehne as EU representative to the Kosovo status process. The council expressed strong support for Ahtisaari's appointment and endorsement of Stefan Lehne as EU representative. Council conclusions were agreed.

Iran The council reviewed the EU's overall relations with Iran. It condemned President Ahmadinejad's reported remarks calling for Israel to be wiped from the map. They agreed that recent developments had been
 
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discouraging in the EU's main areas of concern, including Iran's approach to WMD and terrorism, the human rights situation, and Iran's policies towards the Middle East peace process and regional issues. They noted the importance of the EU/Iran comprehensive dialogue and urged Iran to take steps to resume substantive discussions under the EU/Iran human rights dialogue and to demonstrate by its actions that it was willing to improve respect for human rights. They agreed to keep the EU's relations with Iran under close review. Council conclusions were agreed.

Syria/Lebanon The council underlined the significance of the unanimity achieved on UN Security Council Resolution 1636 on Syria and reviewed progress on the implementation of UNSCR 1559. Council conclusions were agreed.

MEPP The council discussed an invitation from James Wolfensohn, quartet special envoy for disengagement, on behalf of Israel and the Palestinian Authority for the EU to play a monitoring role at Rafah on the Egypt-Gaza border. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and High Representative Solana highlighted that an EU role in this area would help build confidence. In discussion, member states supported the idea of EU involvement in a non-executive monitoring role. This was the fruit of a continuous effort on the ground, which would reinforce the EU's political role. The presidency concluded that there was a general endorsement for the proposals by the high representative and the Commission. Council conclusions were agreed.

Iraq The council agreed conclusions that welcomed the 15 October referendum on the Iraqi constitution.

UN World Summit follow-up The presidency introduced this item, noting that effective follow-up to the UN summit was a priority for the EU. Member states highlighted certain aspects such as the Peacebuilding Commission, Human Rights Council and counter-terrorism as key areas for urgent action. The council agreed extensive conclusions that set out the agreed EU position on all the key areas of summit implementation.

Avian Flu The presidency introduced the item, noting the earlier discussion at the GAERC on 18 October. The Commission noted that work within the EU was well advanced. The council agreed conclusions that detailed the range of work under way, including a comprehensive action plan.

AoB: Colombia Dutch Foreign Minister Bot highlighted the importance of EU support for the peace process in Colombia. The presidency noted that the 3 October GAERC had agreed conclusions on support for the peace process in Colombia, which set the framework for EU policy.
 
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AoB: Cuba The Czech Republic highlighted the problems faced by its embassy in Havana in celebrating their national day.

EU: Education and Youth Council

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): My honourable friend the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (Bill Rammell) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Secretary of State for Education and Skills will chair the education and youth council that will be held in Brussels on 15 November. I will represent the UK during the education council, and Peter Peacock, Scottish Minister for Children and Young People, will represent the UK during the youth council.

There are four substantive items on the education agenda in the morning.

Ministers are expected to endorse a partial political agreement on the Lifelong Learning programme. This will involve agreement on all parts of the programme without budgetary implications.

Ministers will be asked to adopt a resolution on enabling higher education to make its full contribution to the Lisbon strategy. There will also be an informal discussion over lunch of issues relating to higher education based around questions relating to making more higher education institutions world-class; stimulating more public/private partnerships; university-business links and postgraduate study.

Ministers are also expected to adopt conclusions on the role of the development of skills and competences in taking forward the Lisbon agenda. The conclusions build on discussions at the informal meeting of Education Ministers in London on 12–13 July and are a presidency initiative but fit within the ongoing education and training 2010 work programme.

There will be an exchange of views on the Education and Training 2010 work programme—Joint Interim Report 2006. The discussion will focus on the following question: "What priorities, in relation to both economic and social objectives, should the 2006 joint report set for the next phase of the education and training 2010 work programme?"

The youth council will take place after lunch and Ministers will be asked to:

endorse partial political agreement on the Youth in Action programme. As with the Lifelong Learning programme this will involve agreeing on all sections of the text without budgetary implications;
 

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adopt a resolution on implementing the European Pact for Youth and promoting active citizenship; and

take part in an exchange of views on Bringing Europe Closer to its Young Citizens.

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