---

Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council: 14–15 February 2016

My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 March and I attended the General Affairs Council on 15 March. The Foreign Affairs Council was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the General Affairs Council was chaired by the Dutch Presidency. The meetings were held in Brussels.

Foreign Affairs Council

A provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions adopted can be found at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2016/03/14/

In her introductory remarks Ms Mogherini briefed Foreign Ministers on her recent visits to Cuba and Argentina, the EU role on the International Syria Support Group and on external aspects of the migration crisis.

Russia

The Council took stock of EU-Russia relations, in a discussion which took place shortly before the announcement of the partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria.

As part of the discussion, Ms Mogherini proposed five guiding principles for the EU’s policy towards Russia: (i) full implementation of the Minsk Agreements as a key element for any substantial change; (ii) strengthening relations with Eastern Partners and other neighbours, including Central Asia; (iii) strengthening the EU’s resilience; (iv) selective engagement where there is a clear EU interest to engage; and (v) strengthening people to people contacts and support to civil society.

Ministers supported the guiding principles. The Foreign Secretary argued for a united EU position. I It was not in our interests to isolate Russia, but sanctions remained necessary and effective; and this was not the time to change tack. The Foreign Secretary added the EU should continue to hold Russia to account when it violated international norms.

Iran

The Council discussed relations with Iran and possible areas of reengagement following the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the lifting of all nuclear-related EU sanctions. Ms Mogherini briefed ministers on her planned trip to Tehran in April, where she will be accompanied by a delegation of Commissioners, which will explore different areas of cooperation with Iran. The Foreign Secretary made clear that, while much progress has been made, we continued to have concerns (for example in relation to Iran’s human rights record) and that it was important to pursue a careful and balanced approach to reengagement.

Libya

Over lunch, Foreign Ministers exchanged views with the United Nations Secretary General’s special representative for Libya, Martin Kobler, on recent developments in Libya.

Middle East Peace Process

The Council discussed the latest developments in the region including an update from Ms Mogherini on plans by the Middle East Quartet to prepare a report with recommendations for de-escalating the violence and promoting a two-state solution. The Council also discussed an initiative led by France to convene an international conference in Paris by the summer of 2016 with the aim relaunching the peace process in the Middle East. Ms Mogherini and a number of Member States supported the initiative.

Ministers agreed without discussion a number of measures:

• The Council adopted conclusions on the Central African Republic.
• The Council adopted conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report: ‘ACP-EU Energy facility support for renewable energy in East Africa’.
• The Council concluded consultation with Burundi under article 96 of the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement).
• The Council adopted a decision amending restrictive measure against members of the Al-Qaida organisation and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.
• The Council approved a Crisis Management Concept (CMC) for a possible EU military training mission in the Central African Republic.
• The Council adopted the updated version of the common military list of the EU, which acts as a reference point for Member States’ national military technology and equipment lists.
• The Council took note of the Seventeenth Annual Report, which defines common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment.

General Affairs Council

A provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions adopted can be found at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2016/03/14/

The General Affairs Council (GAC) on 15 March focussed on preparation of the March European Council, the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Regulation, European Semester and Cohesion Policy.

Preparation of the March European Council

The GAC discussed the agenda for the European Council on 17-18 March, which the Prime Minister attended. The agenda covered migration and European Semester and outcomes of the February European Council.

On migration, I welcomed the outcomes of the EU-Turkey Summit and emphasised that more work needed to be done before Leaders could reach agreement at the March European Council. I highlighted the need for a more strategic approach to stop people smuggling and dissuade migrants from using the Aegean route.

Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Regulation (IIA)

The Council formally adopted the IIA text and will focus on implementation at the May GAC and June European Council. The agreement now needs to be officially signed by the Commission, Parliament and Council and shall enter into force on the day of its signature.

European Semester

The Council welcomed the Synthesis report which summarises the results of this year’s European Semester process. The Presidency led an exchange of views on the importance of good governance for driving the successful implementation of the Semester’s recommendations.

Cohesion Policy – Investing in Jobs and Growth

Commissioner Creţu presented the Commission report (Investing in jobs and growth – maximising the contribution of European Structural and Investment Funds) which summarised the expected results over the 2014-2020 period. She called for a debate on simplification, which would feed into the mid-term review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework and the larger debate on the future of cohesion policy.

Under AOB, the Presidency informed the Council that the Informal GAC, 11-12 April, would focus on coherence of the Council’s work and how it fits with follow-up to the European Council as well as follow-up to the Multi-Annual Financial Framework seminar held in February.

The next formal GAC will take place on 24 May, and will focus on follow-up to the March European Council, preparation for the June European Council, Rule of Law, and Better Regulation.