EU General Affairs Council Conclusions

PRESS RELEASE: 2755th Council Meeting, General Affairs and External Relations, General Affairs, Luxembourg, 17 October 2006

Main Results of the Council

The Council welcomed a report from the Commission concluding that Bulgaria and Romania, on the basis of progress made, will be able to take on the rights and obligations of European Union membership, as scheduled, on 1 January 2007. It commended the two countries for reforms undertaken and to invited them to complete final preparations for membership.

The Council approved regulations providing the legal basis for spending as from 1 January 2007 under the EU's new financial framework in two key external relations policy areas, namely a financing instrument for development cooperation, with nearly EUR 17 billion for seven years, and a European neighbourhood and partnership instrument, with over EUR 11.1 billion.

It also agreed to the signature of a new agreement with the United States on the processing and transfer by airline companies of passenger name record data. The agreement is aimed at preventing and combating terrorism and serious crime, whilst ensuring an equivalent level of protection of passengers' personal data in line with European standards on fundamental rights and privacy.

The Council also approved the EU Annual Report on Human Rights 2006.

CONTENTS: ITEMS DEBATED

ENLARGEMENT - Council conclusions

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

- Iraq - extension of mandate of EU Integrated Rule of Law Mission

- Sudan/Darfur - extension of EU civilian-military supporting action

- EU Annual Report on Human Rights 2006

- Preparations for the EU-Ukraine summit

- Relations with Moldova - Cooperation committee

- Romania - Industrial products

- European neighbourhood and partnership instrument*

- Development cooperation instrument

- External assistance in 2005 - Council conclusions

- EU-South Africa Strategic Partnership - Council conclusions

- EU-Africa partnership on Infrastructure - Council conclusions

TRADE POLICY

- Switzerland - Tariff quotas for agricultural products

GENERAL AFFAIRS

- Proceedings in the Council's different configurations

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

- 50th anniversary of the treaty of Rome - 2 euro commemorative coin - Council conclusions

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

- Passenger name record data - Signature of Agreement with the United States

- External borders agency - participation of Iceland and Norway

INTERNAL MARKET

- Motor vehicles - Systems to protect passengers - Field of vision

TRANSPARENCY

- Annual report on public access to documents

DECISIONS TAKEN BY WRITTEN PROCEDURE

- Economic and Social Committee

For details, please see the complete Council Conclusions.

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• €17 billion for development cooperation: EU Council reaches political agreement on financing instrument (17/10/2006)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (17/10/2006)
• Sudan/Darfur: EU Council extends EU civilian-military supporting action (17/10/2006)
• EU agrees to move ahead with "aid for trade" package  (16/10/2006)
• Darfur: EC President Barroso announces extra €40m in humanitarian aid (2/10/2006)
• European Commission confirms Bulgaria's and Romania's EU accession on 1 January 2007, completed by a rigorous package of accompanying measures (26/9/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - UN High-Level Meeting on Iraq (18/9/2006)
• South African President Mbeki and EU Commissioner Michel discuss strengthening the EU-South Africa partnership (1/3/2006)
• Le Fonds fiduciaire de la BEI pour le financement des infrastructures en Afrique (9/2/2006)
• EU external assistance: record performance in 2005 (3/2/2006)