Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2020-21
UPN Alm.del Bilag 79
Offentligt
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Council of the
European Union
13737/20
(OR. en)
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 30
PR CO 30
EN
OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
3780th Council meeting
Foreign Affairs
Brussels, 7 December 2020
President
Josep Borrell
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy
PRESS
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 B
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1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 8026
[email protected] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/press
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 UPN, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 79: Rådssekretariatets referat fra rådsmøde (udenrigsanliggender) 07. december 2020
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
7 December 2020
CONTENTS
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ITEMS DEBATED
Current Affairs ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Transatlantic relations .......................................................................................................................... 4
Strategic autonomy .............................................................................................................................. 5
Other business ...................................................................................................................................... 5
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National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong ................................................................................................... 5
Global human rights sanctions regime ................................................................................................................. 5
Lebanon .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Civilian CSDP Compact 2021 ............................................................................................................................. 5
EU Peace Mediation ............................................................................................................................................ 5
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
Foreign Affairs
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Report on EDA's Activities in 2020 ..................................................................................................................... 6
Informal videoconference of the members of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council........................................ 6
Conclusions on Lebanon ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Informal videoconference of the members of the EU-Algeria Association Council .............................................. 6
Conclusions on Civilian CSDP Compact ............................................................................................................. 6
Conclusions on EU Peace Mediation ................................................................................................................... 7
Council Decision and Regulation concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations
and abuses ........................................................................................................................................................... 7

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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 UPN, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 79: Rådssekretariatets referat fra rådsmøde (udenrigsanliggender) 07. december 2020
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
EU positions for international negotiations
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7 December 2020
EU position regarding amendments to the Agreement further to the accession of Samoa and Solomon
Islands ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
EU position regarding amendment of certain provisions of Protocol II (rules of origin) ....................................... 7
EU position regarding the establishment of the Rules of Procedure of the Trade and Special Committees............ 8
AGRICULTURE
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Listing co-formulants which are not accepted for inclusion in plant protection products ...................................... 8
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
ITEMS DEBATED
Current Affairs
7 December 2020
High Representative Borrell briefed ministers on the legislative elections that took place on 6 December
2020 in Venezuela, and that the EU considered not to be free, fair or democratic. The High Representative
stressed that the EU, Latin American partners in the International Contact Group and other stakeholders
should come together to help Venezuelans to try to find a democratic, peaceful solution.
Venezuela: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the elections for the National
Assembly
Ministers were informed about the situation in Georgia, where the majority and opposition parties must
pursue efforts to find a way forward following the parliamentary elections.
The Council was updated on the latest developments surrounding Turkey ahead of the European Council on
10-11 December. In this context the High Representative reported that Turkey had not shown a fundamental
change of direction, and the European Council would assess how Turkey had responded to the EU's offer for
a constructive agenda and dialogue.
Ministers reviewed the situation in Belarus, where repressions by authorities against the population continue,
and Ethiopia. About the latter, the High Representative stressed that a return to dialogue and a peaceful and
sustainable settlement of the conflict were essential, and that the EU strongly supported the African Union
initiative in this sense.
Transatlantic relations
Following an initial exchange of views held during the video conference of foreign affairs ministers on 19
November, the Council discussed how to reinvigorate the strategic partnership with the United States and
engage with the new administration taking office in January 2021. Ministers stressed that a strong, reciprocal
and far-sighted partnership should become the backbone of a renewed global alliance between the EU and
the US.
In this context the Council adopted conclusions on EU-US relations.
Council conclusions on European Union
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United States relations
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
Strategic autonomy
7 December 2020
The Council had an exchange of views
on how to enhance and operationalise the EU’s strategic autonomy
from a foreign and security policy point of view. Ministers were invited in particular to identify concrete
political initiatives and projects that can help enhance the EU's capacity to act and have an impact globally.
During the debate it was stressed that the discussion on strategic autonomy goes together with and
complements efforts to increase EU's resilience and strengthen multilateral engagement.
Other business
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National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong
The Council reviewed the implementation of the National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong on 30 June
2020, stressing that the political situation had deteriorated, with severe blows to political pluralism and
freedom of opinion. The EU will continue to implement the Council conclusions expressing political support
for Hong Kong's autonomy under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, and, if necessary, further
measures could be considered at a later stage.
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Global human rights sanctions regime
Few days ahead of the International Human Rights Day on 10 December, the Council adopted a decision and
a regulation establishing a global human rights sanctions regime that will allow the EU to target individuals,
entities and bodies responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses
worldwide, no matter where they occurred.
EU adopts a global human rights sanctions regime
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Lebanon
The Council adopted
conclusions on Lebanon.
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Civilian CSDP Compact 2021
The Council adopted
conclusions on the Civilian CSDP
Compact reaffirming its commitment to strengthen
the civilian branch of the Common Security and Defence Policy.
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EU Peace Mediation
The Council adopted
conclusions on
EU Peace Mediation
.
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
Foreign Affairs
Report on EDA's Activities in 2020
7 December 2020
The Council endorsed the Report of the European Defence Agency for 2020. The report summarises the key
deliverables and the future priorities for EU military capability development, namely the EU battle-tank.
Informal videoconference of the members of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council
The EU adopted its position on the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council due to take place on 17 December
2020. EU cooperation with Uzbekistan focuses mainly on rural development and the agriculture sector,
including horticulture, irrigation, water management, livestock and professional education. The last
Cooperation Council took stock of developments in relations between the EU and Uzbekistan over the past
year, noting with satisfaction the intensity of contacts at all levels,
Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan
Conclusions on Lebanon
The Council approved conclusions on Lebanon recovery and reforms.
For more details, see
press release
Informal videoconference of the members of the EU-Algeria Association Council
The EU adopted its position on the EU-Algeria Association Council due to take place on 7 December 2020.
Leaders are set to talk about regional cooperation, as well as the prevention of and the fight against
terrorism
and
radicalisation.
Delegation of the European Union to Algeria
Conclusions on Civilian CSDP Compact
The Council approved conclusions on the CSDP Compact.
For more details, see
press release
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 UPN, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 79: Rådssekretariatets referat fra rådsmøde (udenrigsanliggender) 07. december 2020
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
Conclusions on EU Peace Mediation
7 December 2020
The Council approved conclusions on EU Peace Mediation whereby the Council reaffirms its support to
peace mediation as a key tool of conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding under the Common
Foreign and Security Policy when addressing risks to peace.
Council Decision and Regulation concerning restrictive measures against serious human
rights violations and abuses
The Council decided to approve a new EU human rights sanctions regime. The framework will allow the EU
to list individuals, entities and bodies (state and non-state) for committing gross and serious violations of
human rights wherever they may have occurred.
For more details, see
press release
EU positions for international negotiations
EU position regarding amendments to the Agreement further to the accession of Samoa and
Solomon Islands
The Council adopted a decision on the position to be taken, on behalf of the EU, in the Trade Committee
established under the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and
the Pacific States, of the other part, as regards the amendment to be made to the Agreement to take account
of the accession of the Independent State of Samoa and of Solomon Islands (11629/20 and 11630/20).
EU position regarding amendment of certain provisions of Protocol II (rules of origin)
The Council adopted a decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU in the Trade Committee
established under the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and
the Pacific States, of the other part, as regards the amendment of certain provisions of Protocol II concerning
the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation (10898/20
and 10899/20).
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 UPN, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 79: Rådssekretariatets referat fra rådsmøde (udenrigsanliggender) 07. december 2020
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
7 December 2020
EU position regarding the establishment of the Rules of Procedure of the Trade and Special
Committees
The Council adopted a decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU within the Trade Committee
established under the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and
the Pacific States, of the other part, as regards the establishment of the Rules of Procedure of the Trade
Committee and the Rules of Procedure of the Special Committees (11958/20 and 11960/20)
.
AGRICULTURE
Listing co-formulants which are not accepted for inclusion in plant protection products
The Council decided, by written procedure, not to oppose the adoption of a European Commission
Regulation amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of
the Council listing co-formulants which are not accepted for inclusion in plant protection products
(12233/20 +
ADD1, 12688/20).
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