Rådssekretariatets referat fra rådsmøde (udenrigsanliggender) 21. september 2020

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Council of the
European Union
EN
10958/20
(OR. en)
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 23
PR CO 23
OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
3769th Council meeting
Foreign Affairs
Brussels, 21 September 2020
President Josep Borrell
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy
Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2019-20
UPN Alm.del - Bilag 227
Offentligt
PROVISIONAL VERSION 21 September 2020
1
 Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated
in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks.
  Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's internet site
(http://www.consilium.europa.eu).
  Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by
an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's internet site or may be obtained from the Press
Office.
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CONTENTS1
ITEMS DEBATED
Belarus .................................................................................................................................................3
Libya ....................................................................................................................................................3
European Union-African Union relations............................................................................................4
Current Affairs .....................................................................................................................................4
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
– Protocol to the EuroMediterranean agreement with Tunisia ................................................................................... 5
– Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
– Support to Peace and Development in Afghanistan ................................................................................................ 5
– European Court of Auditors - EU Support to Morocco........................................................................................... 5
– EU-Peru Framework Participation Agreement........................................................................................................ 6
– EU - Belgrade/Pristina Dialogue (Budget) .............................................................................................................. 6
– Libya - Restrictive Measures................................................................................................................................... 6
– Restrictive Measures against the Central African Republic - UN Transposition .................................................... 6
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
– Centrally managed EU interventions for venture capital......................................................................................... 7
GENERAL AFFAIRS
– EU classified information - security assessment visits............................................................................................ 7
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ITEMS DEBATED
Belarus
The Council had an exchange of views on Belarus, during which it reiterated that the EU does not
recognise the outcome of the August elections in Belarus, as they were neither free nor fair.
Ministers noted the determination and perseverance of the people of Belarus in spite of repression,
and expressed strong solidarity with them in their democratic aspirations and call for new, free and
fair elections under the OSCE supervision.
Ministers firmly supported the sovereignty and independence of Belarus and called on all
international partners not to interfere in its internal affairs.
The issue of sanctions was also discussed and ministers restated the political will to adopt new
restrictive measures as soon as possible.
Finally the Council also reviewed the overall relations that the EU has with Belarus and, in this
context, it discussed further financial support that could be given to civil society and independent
media.
Libya
The Council discussed the latest developments in Libya following the announcements made on 21
August 2020 by the President of the Presidency Council, Fayez al-Serraj, and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, on the way forward out of the Libyan crisis.
Ministers identified as main priorities: the reaching of a permanent and sustainable ceasefire-
agreement in the framework of the UN-led process, the lifting of the oil blockade across Libya, and
the resumption of the political dialogue.
Ministers also had an opportunity to touch on the results of the recently launched Operation Irini in
the implementation of the UN arms embargo.
Furthermore the Council adopted new sanctions targeting 2 people and 3 entities undermining the
peace and security of Libya, violating the arms embargo or committing human rights abuses.
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European Union-African Union relations
The Council exchanged views on the EU relations with its African Union counterparts, and ways to
step up relations with Africa in the medium and long term both from a political and an economic
point of view.
Ministers agreed to develop joint strategic priorities in order to pave the way for cooperation in the
next decade, and to focus on tangible results, in the spirit of the "Team Europe" approach.
In this context the Council was also updated on the state of play of the post-Cotonou negotiations.
Current Affairs
Under current affairs, ministers had the opportunity to be briefed on Venezuela and the results of
the latest meeting of the International Contact Group. Ministers agreed that the international
community needed to mobilise all efforts to help Venezuelans find a peaceful and democratic
solution to the ongoing crisis, and to address the urgent needs of the population.
Concerning Russia the High Representative touched on the poisoning of Mr Navalny and the need
to have an urgent international investigation in full transparency and cooperation with the
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Ministers acknowledged the difficult situation in Lebanon and stressed their solidarity with the
people, highlighting the need for a speedy formation a new government.
On China, ministers were briefed by the High Representative on the EU-China Leaders’
videoconference of 14 September, with a focus on the state of play in negotiations for a
Comprehensive Agreement on Investments and the situation on human rights.
Finally on Turkey, ministers briefly touched on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean ahead of
the forthcoming European Council. While they acknowledged some recent positive steps, they
called on Turkey to take further steps to de-escalate.
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OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Protocol to the EuroMediterranean agreement with Tunisia
The Council approved the Gaelic version of:
- the decision on the signing and provisional application of
- the draft decision on the conclusion of
a protocol to the Euro-Mediterrean Agreement establishing an association between the EU and
Tunisia to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU.
Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the EU strategy against the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction
The Council endorsed the Progress Report on the implementation of the EU strategy against the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, covering activities carried out in 2019.
Support to Peace and Development in Afghanistan
The Council approved the document "Key elements for sustained international support to Peace and
Development in Afghanistan" emerging from negotiations with like-minded international donors in
Afghanistan such as the UN, the World Bank, Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, US,.
European Court of Auditors - EU Support to Morocco
The Council approved conclusions on the European Court of Auditors' Special Report No 9/2019
entitled 'EU Support to Morocco - Limited results so far'. The report notes the limited effect of the
European Union's visibility in providing aid to Morocco and calls for a re-invigorated budget
allocated for support to Morocco.
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EU-Peru Framework Participation Agreement
The Council adopted a decision authorising the High Representative to open negotiations for an
Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Peru establishing a framework for its
participation in European Union crisis management operations ('Framework Participation
Agreement').
EU - Belgrade/Pristina Dialogue (Budget)
The Council adopted a decision amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 appointing the European
Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional
issues.
On 2 April 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 , appointing Mr Miroslav
LAJČÁK as European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other
Western Balkan regional issues. The decision takes account of the relaunch of the Belgrade-Pristina
Dialogue in July 2020, and amends the budget accordingly.
Libya - Restrictive Measures
The Council today decided to impose targeted restrictive measures on two persons responsible for
human rights abuses in Libya and three entities involved in violating the UN arms embargo in place
for Libya. They will be added to the EU's list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures
related to the Libyan conflict. The sanctions imposed comprise a travel ban and an asset freeze for
natural persons, and an asset freeze for entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden
from making funds available to those listed. With these new designations, the EU now has travel
bans on 17 listed persons and has frozen the assets of 21 persons and 19 entities.
For more details, see press release
Restrictive Measures against the Central African Republic - UN Transposition
The Council adopted a decision amending Decision 2013/798/CFSP concerning restrictive
measures against the Central African Republic and a Council regulation amending regulation
224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic.
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ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Centrally managed EU interventions for venture capital
The Council adopted conclusions on the European Court of Auditors' Special Report No
17/2019 “Centrally managed EU interventions for venture capital: in need of more
direction”.
GENERAL AFFAIRS
EU classified information - security assessment visits
In accordance with Article 16(1)(c) of the Council security rules, the Council approved an annual
security assessment visit programme recommended by the Council Security Committee.
The visits aim at assessing the effectiveness of measures implemented for protecting EU classified
information in member states, certain EU bodies, agencies and entities, as well as in third states and
international organisations.