EU Foreign Ministers to discuss the Western Balkans and Middle East

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will meet for the first time during Finland's EU Presidency on 17 - 18 July in Brussels. The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Foreign Minister, Erkki Tuomioja. During Finland’s EU Presidency, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paula Lehtomäki, will represent Finland at the GAERC meetings.

The Ministers will discuss the Middle East and the weakening humanitarian situation in the region as well as the Western Balkans.

Problems relating to migration and a creation of a common EU policy will also be on the agenda. The policy must be based on a broad-based approach with the aim of tackling the reasons behind migration. Consistency with the EU’s external relations policy, geographical balance and respect of human rights are essential principles of the cooperation in this field.

The Council will discuss the results of the Rabat Conference on Migration, which the Foreign Minister Tuomioja attended at the beginning of July, and the High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development to be organised in connection with the UN General Assembly on 14-15 September.

The Council will also discuss the WTO negotiation round and ministers will sign an agreement on the 10th European Development Fund at the GAERC meeting. The 10th European Development Fund has been allocated EUR 22.7 billion for the period of 2008-2013 to finance EU development cooperation in the ACP countries.

In an open session the Council will also discuss the priorities for Finland’s EU Presidency. A webcast of the open session can be viewed on the EU Presidency web service at and on the Council Secretariat’s website at .