John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the 12 December 2005 meeting of EU Foreign Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39318/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I attended the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held in Brussels on 12 December. The main focus of the meeting was to prepare for the European Council on 15 and 16 December which will be dominated by the financial perspectives. There was a relatively short discussion on the financial perspectives as updated proposals from the UK Presidency had not yet been received. The Council examined and approved a series of draft conclusions for the European Council. The topics covered the future of Europe, a new Union strategy for Africa, an EU counter-terrorism strategy, sustainable development, climate change and sustainable energy, and growth and jobs. These conclusions will be forwarded for adoption at tomorrow's meeting of the European Council. Ministers also discussed a Presidency paper entitled "Global Approach to Migration: Priority Actions Focussing on Africa and the Mediterranean". The Presidency proposes that the European Council should adopt a set of priority actions for 2006 in the area of migration.

Ministers noted the draft annual programme for the Council submitted by the two member states holding the Presidency next year, Austria and Finland. The Austrian Foreign Minister highlighted the main themes of the incoming Presidency, which are employment and economic growth; maintaining quality of life without adversely affecting industry and growth; bringing EU citizens closer together and strengthening the role of the EU as a global partner. Other areas of importance for Austria will be the national debates on the constitutional treaty, the Lisbon Agenda, enlargement and the justice and home affairs agenda.

The GAERC had a preliminary exchange of views on the Commission's 2005 enlargement strategy paper and adopted conclusions on developments with regard to Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia. Ministers also reviewed recent developments in the western Balkans including in Kosovo. The Commission's report recommending that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia be given candidate status was referred to the European Council for consideration.

The EU strategy for Africa, which Ireland strongly supports, was reviewed and forwarded to the European Council for adoption. Finally, the GAERC adopted conclusions on Ethiopia and Eritrea which expressed grave concern about the tense and volatile situation in the border region. The Council reiterated its full support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640.