EU Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on Mali, Somalia, Syria, Egypt, and more

31/1/2013 EU source: Council    Ref: CL13-014EN

Summary: 31 January 2013, Brussels - Council of the European Union Press Release: 3218th Council meeting on Foreign Affairs - provisional version

President Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Main results of the Council

The Council reiterated the EU's strong and continued commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali. It welcomed the progress of the Mali armed forces, supported by France and states of the region, in the North of Mali against the terrorist groups. It stressed the importance of continuing international commitment in support of Mali, in particular the efforts deployed by the African states. It also welcomed the adoption of a roadmap, a vital step towards fully re-establishing constitutional order.

The Council also welcomed the end of the transition in Somalia as a historic opportunity to leave behind two decades of conflict and undertook to sustain EU's collective efforts to support Somalia's transformation. The Council had an exchange of views with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The Council took stock of the situation in Syria and Egypt as well as of the EU response to the Arab Spring, in view of a debate at the European Council of 7/8 February.  

The Council approved the crisis management concept for a possible civilian Common Security and Defence Policy mission to support border management in Libya. 

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

Southern neighbourhood

Mali

Somalia/Horn of Africa

The Arctic

United States of America

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

- Iraq - restrictive measures

- Temporary reception of certain Palestinians

- Afghanistan - restrictive measures

- EU action against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

- Tunisia - restrictive measures

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

- EU support for sustainable change in transition societies

COMMON SECURITY A!D DEFENCE POLICY

- EU exercise programme 2013-2015

- Support for border security in Libya

Download the complete Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions (pdf)