General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting (GAERC) - 22 and 23 July 2008

On 22 and 23 July in Brussels, Bernard Kouchner, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, will chair a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which on a monthly basis brings together the 27 EU foreign ministers, the Commission and the Secretary-General of the Council, High Representative for CFSP.

After introductory remarks on the goals of the French Presidency for European diplomacy over the next six months, and especially ways to strengthen the transatlantic relationship, the GAERC meeting will have four main components:

•    A discussion on the EU's aims in its relationship with Ukraine at the summit to be held on 9 September with Heads of State in Evian;

•    A debate, in the presence of Tony Blair, the Quartet's special envoy, on what is blocking the situation on the ground will outline discussions, which will be continued in Gymnich, on greater involvement of the European Union in the peace process;

•    Lastly, the EU will study how it intends to act in response to the second round of presidential elections in Zimbabwe, whose results it considers illegitimate;

•    A review of the response to the situation in Zimbabwe. 

At this meeting, the situation in Somalia will also be addressed along with current work to combat maritime piracy. A mid-term evaluation will be drawn up of the EUFOR operation aimed at securing eastern Chad and northern CAR, and possibilities will be studied for resuming the operation next March. Javier Solana will report on his last contacts with Iranian authorities and the Council will assess the forming of the new Serbian Government.

In the margins of the Council meeting, the Association Council with Kyrgyzstan will meet on 22 July at 6 p.m.

• Updated: 28.10.2008

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