Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2019-20
UPN Alm.del Bilag 78
Offentligt
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Council of the
European Union
5192/20
(OR. en)
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 2
PR CO 2
EN
OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
3742nd Council meeting
Foreign Affairs
Brussels, 20 January 2020
President
Josep Borrell
High Representative for the Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy
PRESS
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 B
–
1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 6319 / 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 8026
[email protected] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/press
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 UPN, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 78: Rådssekretariatets referat fra rådsmøde (udenrigsanliggender) 20. januar 2020
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
20 January 2020
CONTENTS
1
ITEMS DEBATED
Current affairs ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Sahel ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Climate diplomacy ............................................................................................................................... 4
Middle East peace process and the wider region ................................................................................. 4
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
–
–
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EU-Ecuador Dialogue on Human Rights: Terms of Reference ............................................................................... 5
EU-Kazakhstan: Council Decision on the conclusion of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
17th EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council on 20 January 2020: Establishment of the EU position ...................... 5
GENERAL AFFAIRS
–
Renewal of the Committee of the Regions .............................................................................................................. 5
TRANSPARENCY
–
Public access to documents ..................................................................................................................................... 6

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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PROVISIONAL VERSION
ITEMS DEBATED
Current affairs
20 January 2020
The Foreign Affairs Council was informed about the outcome of the Berlin conference on Libya of
19 January. The Council discussed how the EU can engage more forcefully in the process towards a
political solution, in particular to help implement the agreed ceasefire and enforce the UN arms
embargo.
The Council then touched on the situation in Bolivia. Ministers restated their support for the process
that will lead to general elections on 3 May 2020.
Ministers also referred to Venezuela, following a further escalation of the crisis related to recent
events in the National Assembly. They restated their support for Juan Guaidó as President of the
National Assembly.
Finally the High Representative briefly reported on his trip to New Delhi, India, where he
participated in the Raisina Dialogue and discussed with the Indian authorities preparations for the
upcoming 15th EU-India Summit, scheduled for 13 March.
The Berlin Conference on Libya: Conference conclusions
Joint Statement by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the High
Representative/Vice-President, Josep Borrell Fontelles on the Berlin conference, 19 January 2020
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the situation in Bolivia,
press release 15 November 2019
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the latest developments on the
National Assembly of Venezuela, 9 January 2020
Sahel
The Council exchanged views on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel
and the role the EU can play as leading partner and donor in the region, following the France - G5
Sahel summit that took place in Pau on 13 January.
The Council expressed support for renewing and scaling up the existing Sahel Strategy with a view
to increasing the impact of EU's action in support of security, stability and development. Ministers
emphasised the importance of an integrated approach ensuring maximum synergies between the
different actors involved and resources deployed, as well as ensuring ownership of the G5 Sahel
countries.
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
20 January 2020
In their interventions, ministers also touched on the upcoming meeting with the G5 Sahel, which the
president of the European Council, Charles Michel, intends to organise in the margins of the March
2020 European Council.
G5 Sahel
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Pau Summit
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Statement by the Heads of State, 13 January 2020
Council conclusions on the Sahel, press release 13 May 2019
Climate diplomacy
The Council discussed ways to step up and enhance its climate diplomacy, and adopted conclusions
on the matter.
Ministers referred in particular to possible concrete actions to effectively reach out to third
countries, generate more climate ambition at global level and enhance implementation from key
partners and emitters.
Climate diplomacy: Council renews the EU’s commitment to place climate action at the centre of
external policy, press release 20 January 2020
European Council Conclusions, press release 12 December 2019
Middle East peace process and the wider region
Over a working lunch, EU foreign ministers informally discussed the Middle East Peace Process
(MEPP) and the wider Middle East. These discussions built on the outcome of the 10 January 2020
extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council, which focused on the current situation in Libya and Iraq. In
this context ministers also touched on the future of the JCPoA, the Iran nuclear deal. The High
Representative stressed that he would continue to engage with all relevant actors in the region.
Statement by High Representative Borrell as Coordinator of the Joint Commission of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Dispute Resolution Mechanism
Middle East Peace Process (EEAS)
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
20 January 2020
EU-Ecuador Dialogue on Human Rights: Terms of Reference
The Council approved the Terms of Reference for the EU-Ecuador Dialogue on Human Rights.
Since 2014 the European Union and Ecuador meet at least once a year to review the state of their
relationship and discuss issues of common interest. Under this bilateral consultation mechanism the
topic of human rights has been addressed, next to others issues of common interest.
EU-Kazakhstan: Council Decision on the conclusion of the Enhanced Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement
The Council adopted a decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Enhanced
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and its member states, of the one part, and
the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the other part (12409/16). The Council decision will be published in
the Official Journal of the European Union in accordance with Article 17 (1)(a) of the Council's
Rules of Procedure.
17th EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council on 20 January 2020: Establishment of the EU
position
The Council approved the position to be taken by the European Union at the 17th meeting of the
EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council that took place on 20 January 2020 in Brussels.
GENERAL AFFAIRS
Renewal of the Committee of the Regions
The Council appointed 120 members and 114 alternate members to the Committee of the Regions
for its new five-year term running from 26 January 2020 to 25 January 2025 (14986/19).
The members and alternate members of the committee are appointed by the Council in accordance
with the proposals made by each member state.
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
20 January 2020
The Committee of the Regions currently consists of 350 representatives of regional or local bodies
who either hold a regional or local authority electoral mandate or are politically accountable to an
elected assembly. The size of the committee will be reduced to 329 members once the UK leaves
the EU.
The Council made a first batch of appointments for the committee's new term on 10 December 2019
(14233/19). The remaining appointments will be made at a later date.
TRANSPARENCY
Public access to documents
The European Council approved on 15 January 2020 the reply to confirmatory application No
39/c/01/19 (doc.
EUCO 35/19).
On 20 January 2020, the Council adopted by written procedure the reply to confirmatory
application No 38/c/01/19 (doc. 14533/19).
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