EU General Affairs Council Conclusions

Main results of the Council

The Council agreed on a strategy on "aid for trade", aimed at enabling developing countries, especially the least developed ones, to better integrate the world trade system and to use trade more effectively in the eradication of poverty. EUR 2 billion will be available annually from 2010, of which half will come from the European Community budget and half from the member states.

It approved a legal framework for payment services, aimed at reducing the costs of payments made within the EU. The framework complements an initiative by which industry will provide for a single euro payments area so as to enable money to move freely, regardless of geographical situation.

The Council also approved draft amendments to the "television without frontiers" directive.

The Council adopted a regulation extending for one year anti-dumping duties currently in force on imports of integrated electronic compact fluorescent lamps (CFL-i) originating in China, as well as on imports of the same product from Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam (13040/07).

The Council approved the ninth EU annual report on human rights, covering the period from July 2006 to June 2007.

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

EU DISASTER RESPONSE

MEETINGS IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

- EU annual report on human rights

- Euro-Mediterranean meeting

- Relations with the Pacific Island Forum

- Relations with Moldova - Cooperation committee

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

- Aid for trade

- UN conference on trade and development

TRADE POLICY

- Anti-dumping - Fluorescent lamps from China, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam

GENERAL AFFAIRS

- Proceedings in the Council's different configurations

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

- Jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters

- Europol - Analysis files

- Immigration - readmission agreement with Moldova

FINANCIAL SERVICES

- Payment services in the EU

CUSTOMS UNION

- EU customs code

CULTURE

- Television broadcasting activities

TRANSPORT

- European Aviation Safety Agency

APPOINTMENTS

- European Economic and Social Committee


For details, download the complete General Affairs Council Conclusions.

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• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (16/10/2007)
• Aid for Trade: EU Council agrees on Strategy  (15/10/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations ECOSOC Development Cooperation Forum (5/7/2007)
• EU record on human rights protection in 2006 under scrutiny (28/3/2007)
• EU Commission proposes European strategy to promote gender equality in development cooperation (8/3/2007)