Summary: 18 July 2014, Brussels - Council of the European Union Background on the Foreign Affairs Council 22 July 2014 in Brussels
The Council will start at 9.30, presided by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.
The Council will first exchange views on the situation in Ukraine.
[...]
The Council will take stock of the follow up given on the agreement at the European Council of 16 July to expand the EU restrictive measures, as well as on further diplomatic steps as outlined by Heads of State and Government and discuss next steps.
In particular, the European Council stressed again the EU's support for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine and urged agreement on a genuine and sustainable cease-fire to create the conditions for the implementation of President Poroshenko's peace plan. It regretted that the requested steps set out in the 27 June conclusions have not been adequately taken and agreed to expand the restrictive measures. It also requested the European Investment Bank to suspend the signature of new financing operations in the Russian Federation and invited the Commission to reassess EU-Russia cooperation programmes. (see European Council conclusions).
The Council also is set to formally establish an EU civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy, which will advise on a revised strategy for the civilian security sector in Ukraine, including the police and national guard, and mentor the implementation of reforms.
The European Council of 26/27 June saw the signing of the remainder of the Association Agreement/DCFTA with Ukraine. EU leaders urged the Russian Federation to actively use its influence over illegally armed groups and to stop the flow of weapons and militants across the border, in order to achieve rapid and tangible results in de-escalation. In addition, the European Council set out its expectations on four steps towards de-escalation, underlining the EU's readiness to adopt further restrictive measures (see European Council conclusions, paras 29-33).
A trilateral meeting between the EU, Ukraine and Russia was held on 11 July in Brussels in order to consult on the implementation of the recently signed Association Agreement/DCFTA and to explore its possible economic effects on Russia. The participants agreed to launch a consultation mechanism with primary focus on technical regulations, standards, customs administration, conformity assessment procedures and sanitary and phytosanitary measures arising from the implementation of the AA/DCFTA.
The EU strongly condemns the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and refuses to recognise it. As part of the EU's non-recognition policy, imports of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU have been prohibited unless they have Ukrainian certificates.
In response to the crisis in Ukraine, several summit-level meetings involving Russia have been cancelled and negotiations on visa matters and a new agreement with Russia have been suspended. The EU has also targeted 72 persons responsible for actions that threaten or undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine with an asset freeze and a travel ban. Two confiscated entities in Crimea are also subject to an asset freeze.
EU leaders have reiterated several times that further steps by Russia to destabilise the situation in Ukraine will lead to additional and far reaching consequences for relations between the EU (and its member states) and the Russian Federation in a broad range of economic areas.
The EU supports the Ukrainian economy as set out in the Commission's package of 5 March.
Disbursements of the macro-financial assistance (up to € 1.6 bn) and of EU assistance under the state-building contract (up to € 355m) have started. At the same time, the Commission has made it clear that it stands ready to continue to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia and their respective energy companies on gas supplies, transit and prices.
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SOURCE - EU-UN - here.
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COMMENT
[Iraq, Gaza & Syria also get a mention.]
Looks like EU's hitting the Russians economically.
The move with the certification of goods from Crimea is evil genius.
And check out the whopping
€1.6 billion ($2.16 billion) earmarked financial assistance as well as
€355 million (abt $480 million) 'state building' assistance.
Is that the EU tooth fairy at work or is it something else?
The EU acting as 'mediator' should be fun times to be had by all; the EU's not exactly impartial.
