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EU: General Affairs and External Relations Council

My honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Jim Murphy) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will be held on 10 December in Brussels. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband) will represent the UK. The agenda items are as follows: General Affairs Preparation of the European Council on 14 December The council will discuss preparation of the European Council on 14 December in Brussels. The Government expect the European Council to focus on discussions of the mandate for a Reflection Group (Group of the Wise), and the adoption by the council of a declaration on globalisation. The presidency will seek, with the Government's strong support, a signal from the European Council that, with the signing of the Lisbon treaty on 13 December, the EU now has a stable institutional framework for the foreseeable future and should focus on delivering concrete results for its citizens. Discussion at the European Council is also expected to cover justice and home affairs; a renewed commitment to the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth; energy and climate change; and external relations where the Government's priorities will be Kosovo and Iran. 2007 Enlargement Package The council is expected to take stock of progress on EU enlargement following the publication of the Commission's enlargement strategy and progress reports on 6 November. The Government hope the council will adopt conclusions reaffirming their commitment to enlargement on the basis of the conclusions of the European Council in December 2006, while welcoming the Commission's reports and recommendations for further progress. This will encourage continuation of reform efforts by all the candidates and potential candidates. Middle East The council is expected to welcome the progress made at the Annapolis Conference and to discuss the forthcoming Paris donors’ conference. The council is also expected to adopt conclusions focusing on the Annapolis Conference and EU action in support, including work to strengthen Palestinian security capacity through expansion of the EU mission to support the Palestinian civilian police, and the Paris donors' conference in December. The Government are committed to supporting the shared goal at Annapolis, ““to immediately launch good faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements””. The council is also expected to discuss Lebanon, following the departure of President Lahoud on 23 November. The Government remain concerned about the divisions between the Lebanese Government and the opposition over the election of a successor, which has been a major cause of tension in Lebanon. There now appear to be encouraging signs of progress. The council is expected to adopt conclusions urging a swift, peaceful and democratic outcome to the process. The Government welcome the EU's sustained engagement on Lebanon and continue to support French efforts to facilitate a compromise between the Lebanese political parties. Burma Burma has been added to the agenda at the Government's request to maintain EU focus on Burma and to support the work of the UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Sergio Pinheiro. The Government also want the council to take stock of the continuing detailed, follow-on work on EU sanctions being undertaken following decisions at the October and November councils. Sudan The Government want the council to send a strong statement on Sudan-Darfur and Chad through conclusions reiterating the EU's support for the ongoing UN-African Union- (AU) led efforts to achieve a sustainable peace settlement in Darfur. The Government also expect the council to call on all parties to do all they can to ensure prompt deployment of an effective AU-UN peacekeeping force, UNAMID, which will assume authority from the current AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) by 31 December 2007, and to call for the early deployment of the planned EU mission to Chad and the Central African Republic.