On 7-8 December, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will take part in the European Union's General Affairs and Foreign Relations Council meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.
The General Affairs session is expected to discuss preparations for the European Council of 10-11 December. The European Council will debate institutional issues, climate change policy, the Stockholm programme in the judiciary and the interior affairs, financial supervision and the EU Strategy 2020.
At the General Affairs Council, a joint 18 months programme will be presented for the three EU Presidencies by Spain, Belgium and Hungary for the time period from January 2010 to June 2011.
During the session the ministers will discuss the EU enlargement and the stabilisation and association process, and the European Commission's communication "Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2008-2009" regarding the progress by the West Balkan countries and Turkey on their course towards the EU. Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the International Tribunal for war crimes in former Yugoslavia is also to take part in the discussion.
At the External Relations Council, the foreign ministers will discuss the progress of the EUFOR ALTHEA operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the planned changes in the operation.
The topics on the Council's schedule include the Middle East Peace Process in view of the recent developments in the region. The ministers plan to review the current situation in Iran in relation to the nuclear issue, human rights and the EU-Iranian relations.
Following the coming into effect of the Treaty of Lisbon, 7-8 December will see the last meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Lisbon Treaty foresees separate meetings by the General Affairs Council, chaired by the minister of the respective presidency, and by the External Relations Council, chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. During its presidency, Sweden had already separated the work of the two councils.
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