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Foreign Ministers back EUMM efforts in Georgia
26-04-2010
EU Foreign Ministers have welcomed the continued efforts of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, saying it continued to make “significant contributions in the area of stabilisation and normalisation of the situation” through its monitoring activities and by promoting communication between the parties via the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms.
In its Conclusions, the Foreign Affairs Council “reiterated its call on all sides to fully implement the Six-Point Agreement and subsequent implementing measures to participate constructively in the Geneva talks and increase their efforts to mitigate the consequences of the conflict for the local population.”
While acknowledging that progress on confidence building had taken place, the Council called on all actors on the ground to pursue their efforts on confidence building including as regards return of displaced people. The Council also noted the Georgian government's new strategy for engagement with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and called on all parties to seek opportunities to improve the lives and free movement of people on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Line.
The comments on Georgia were included in a wide-ranging overview of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in the wake of changes under the Lisbon Treaty.
“The EU is a unique and influential actor, able to cover all stages from conflict prevention, rapid response and crisis management to longer term support for development, with a wide range of instruments,” the Council conclusions said, looking forward to the establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS), “which will give a key contribution to the increased policy coherence in the overall framework of the EU's comprehensive approach in its foreign relations.”
Foreign Ministers said CSDP missions and operations were “framed within a coherent policy approach, operating on the ground as part of the EU family and building on necessary local ownership”.
“In order to continue ensuring the added value and quality of CSDP missions and operations, the Council reiterates the need to continue improving effectiveness in providing personnel and equipment, to share best practices, and further develop common training and exercising activities.” (ENPI Info Centre)
Council Conclusions
EUMM website
ENPI Info Centre webpage – Georgia
