On Monday, 13 June, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the European Union Foreign Ministers Council in Luxembourg where the attention was paid on preparations for the European Council due to take place on Thursday-Friday.
Foreign policy leaders prepared the discussion topics for the European Council, which will include the financial perspectives, the economic and social sphere, justice and home affairs, European enlargement as well as external relations. In addition to the Western Balkans and Iraq, the Middle East, the European Neighbourhood Policy, Iran, relations with Asia, Africa and Latin America will be under discussion at the European Council.
The Foreign Ministers approved several final conclusions, including a conclusion on Croatia, based on information obtained from yesterday’s meeting of the Task Force for Croatia and Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague. According to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, the willingness of Croatia’s Government to co-operate with the International Tribunal is noticeable, but three or four months will be necessary to evaluate whether those efforts have produced any results. In the final conclusions, the Foreign Ministers confirmed that Croatia’s progress will be treated again at the Foreign Ministers Council in July.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Estonia supports the prompt start of accession talks with Croatia. "A clear accession perspective for Croatia is the best motivation for continuing co-operation and reforms. If we drag on for too long, the perspective may become vague and weaken Croatia’s ties with the European Union," Paet said.
At the external relations session, the Ministers exchanged ideas on Cuba, the Western Balkans, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Transatlantic relations and on preparations for the UN Summit due to take place in September. The decision of the Council to send a European Union Special Representative to Iraq as well as to Central Asia obtained wide support.
"Viewing the latest events in Central Asia, especially in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan it is clear that the presence of the European Union in that region is important to obtain adequate information about what is going on and to contribute to the stabilisation of the situation," Paet acknowledged.
According to the Foreign Minister, Estonia also supports the appointment of the Special Representative to Iraq. "The European Union’s experience so far has demonstrated that the presence of a Special Representative gives good results and helps to express the European Union’s common message. In Iraq, the Representative together with an EU team will be able to support the political and economic restoration of the country, at the same time making a major contribution to Transatlantic Co-operation on the part of the European Union," the Foreign Minister said.
At the working lunch, the Foreign Ministers discussed the state of play in the Middle East peace process and regulating the situation in Kosovo. At the General Affairs Session, the Foreign Ministers approved the report on the implementation of the action plan against terrorism drafted by the European Commission and the Secretariat-General of the Council of the EU.
PRESS SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
6 317 654
50 94 645
[email protected]
Foreign policy leaders prepared the discussion topics for the European Council, which will include the financial perspectives, the economic and social sphere, justice and home affairs, European enlargement as well as external relations. In addition to the Western Balkans and Iraq, the Middle East, the European Neighbourhood Policy, Iran, relations with Asia, Africa and Latin America will be under discussion at the European Council.
The Foreign Ministers approved several final conclusions, including a conclusion on Croatia, based on information obtained from yesterday’s meeting of the Task Force for Croatia and Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague. According to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, the willingness of Croatia’s Government to co-operate with the International Tribunal is noticeable, but three or four months will be necessary to evaluate whether those efforts have produced any results. In the final conclusions, the Foreign Ministers confirmed that Croatia’s progress will be treated again at the Foreign Ministers Council in July.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Estonia supports the prompt start of accession talks with Croatia. "A clear accession perspective for Croatia is the best motivation for continuing co-operation and reforms. If we drag on for too long, the perspective may become vague and weaken Croatia’s ties with the European Union," Paet said.
At the external relations session, the Ministers exchanged ideas on Cuba, the Western Balkans, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Transatlantic relations and on preparations for the UN Summit due to take place in September. The decision of the Council to send a European Union Special Representative to Iraq as well as to Central Asia obtained wide support.
"Viewing the latest events in Central Asia, especially in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan it is clear that the presence of the European Union in that region is important to obtain adequate information about what is going on and to contribute to the stabilisation of the situation," Paet acknowledged.
According to the Foreign Minister, Estonia also supports the appointment of the Special Representative to Iraq. "The European Union’s experience so far has demonstrated that the presence of a Special Representative gives good results and helps to express the European Union’s common message. In Iraq, the Representative together with an EU team will be able to support the political and economic restoration of the country, at the same time making a major contribution to Transatlantic Co-operation on the part of the European Union," the Foreign Minister said.
At the working lunch, the Foreign Ministers discussed the state of play in the Middle East peace process and regulating the situation in Kosovo. At the General Affairs Session, the Foreign Ministers approved the report on the implementation of the action plan against terrorism drafted by the European Commission and the Secretariat-General of the Council of the EU.
PRESS SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
6 317 654
50 94 645
[email protected]