EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY TO BE IN FOCUS OF ATTENTION DURING EU CHAIRMANSHIP OF FRANCE
NOYAN TAPAN
JU LY 8
The chairmanship of France in the European Union starts in a little
difficult conditions due to Ireland’s negative attitude to Lisbon
Agreement and growth in international prices for oil.
Serge Smessov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
France to RA, said at the July 8 press conference. He informed those
present that in consideration of the formed situation, the Council
of Europe will again convene a conference in October.
According to the Ambassador, France assumes EU chairmanship for the
12th time. However, 15 countries were members of EU during its last
chairmanship, in 2000, while today their number is 27. France has
assumed chairmanship in EU after Slovenia and in six months will pass
it to Czech Republic, which will be followed by Sweden.
S. Smessov stated that France will be guided by a number of priorities
during the EU chairmanship, part of which are short-term, others
long-term.
The first of the short-term programs is connected with changes of
the world climate, which is closely connected with European energy
policy. It is envisaged to hold a conference dedicated to climate
changes in Copenhagen, where issues of limitations of carbonic acid
gas exhaustion and Europe’s energy security will be discussed.
The next priority regards migration flows. According to the Ambassador,
a meeting of Ministers of EU member-countries on issues of migration
has been convened in Copenhagen the same day. France has proposed a
draft agreement on fighting illegal migration flows and providing
refuge to refugees, the goal of which is to work out exact game
rules. The draft can be adopted at the conference to be held in
October.
One of the long-term priorities is European agricultural common policy.
According to the Ambassador, until 2013 it is envisaged to
reconsider Europe’s demands in the sphere of agriculture, to take
into consideration world demand in the sphere of foodstuffs production.
The last priority regards protection and security European
policy. According to S. Smessov, without casting doubt on NATO’s
role France wishes to have and to manage its own military resources
to resist crisis situations in the world.
The Ambassador said that the situation in Central Europe, in
particular, the European Neighborhood Policy, in which Armenia also
participates, will remain in the focus of EU attention.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
