European Council

On 5 October 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed, on behalf of the Council, a negotiating position on visa liberalisation for Georgia. It confirmed the Commission proposal to provide for visa-free travel for EU citizens when travelling to the territory of Georgia and for citizens of this country when travelling to the EU, for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. 

The Council takes the view that the entry into force of visa liberalisation for Georgia should be at the same time as the entry into force of the new "suspension mechanism". 

On the basis of this mandate, the Slovak presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament. 

"The Council has today demonstrated its strong commitment to visa-free travel for Georgian citizens, taking into account Georgia's reforms. The Presidency believes that the path of credible reforms is the right one and should be encouraged. We count on the European Parliament's support in finalising the related process so that the citizens of Georgia can enjoy visa-free travel as soon as possible", said Peter Javorčík, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the EU, and President of the Permanent Representatives Committee.

The proposal for visa liberalisation for Georgia was published by the Commission on 9 March 2016. The Commission concluded that the country had met all the benchmarks for the exemption of the visa requirement. 

Once the new visa regime for Georgia is agreed with the Parliament and formally adopted, it will  move the country from Annex I of Regulation 539/2001 (countries whose nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area) to Annex II of the same regulation (visa free countries), thus providing for visa-free travel for EU citizens when travelling to the territory of Georgia and for citizens of this country when travelling to the EU, for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.  

In the context of the current migratory situation in the European Union and taking into account the Commission's proposals for visa liberalisation of Georgia, Ukraine, Turkey and Kosovo and the discussions with member states, the Commission decided on 4 May 2016 to present a proposal to amend Regulation 539/2001 to revise the current suspension mechanism. 

The main objective of the revised regulation is to strengthen the suspension mechanism. It does this by making it easier for member states to notify circumstances which might lead to a suspension, by enabling the Commission to trigger the mechanism on its own initiative, and by tasking the Commission to send an annual report to the European Parliament and Council on the extent to which visa-exempt third countries continue to meet the necessary criteria. 

The possible grounds for suspension have been extended and the use of the mechanism will also be facilitated by shortening reference periods and deadlines in order to allow for a faster procedure. 

The discussions between the Parliament and the Council on the visa suspension mechanism are still ongoing. 

Ireland and the United Kingdom will not be subject to the application of these measures, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. The visa regime of these member states remains subject to their national legislation.

On 4 October 2016, the Council adopted the decision on the EU ratification of the Paris Agreement. This agreement sets the framework for global action on climate change.

Following the vote in the European Parliament giving  its consent, the Council adopted the decision by written procedure. The decision will be deposited on Friday 7 October 2016 with the Secretary-General of the UN, who is the depositary of the Paris Agreement. EU ratification comes into effect from the moment of deposit of the decision.    

The Slovak Minister for the Environment and president of the Council, László Sólymos said: "United, Europe did everything possible to speed up its proceedings and breathe life into the Paris Agreement. The Council's adoption of the decision in just a few hours illustrates our commitment to keeping our promises. The deposit of the ratification instruments on Friday will finally round off the whole process. We can all be collectively proud of this achievement". 

Member states will ratify either together with the EU if they have completed their national procedures, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The agreement will enter into force 30 days after the ratification by at least 55 countries accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So far 63 countries have ratified, accounting for 52.11% of global emissions.

ALBANIA

Ditmir Bushati, Minister for Foreign Affairs

ARGENTINA

Mario Verón Guerra, Ambassador - Head of the Argentinian Mission to the EU

ARMENIA

Garen Nazarian, Deputy Foreign Minister

AUSTRALIA

Ric Wells - Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Deputy Secretary  in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

AUSTRIA

Ambassador Peter Launsky, Vice Minister of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Integration, Europe and Foreign Affairs

AZERBAIJAN

Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister for Foreign Affairs

BAHRAIN

Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri - Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs

BANGLADESH

Mohammed Shahdat Hossain, Ambassador designate to the EU

BELGIUM

Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Igor Crnadak, Minister for Foreign Affairs

BRAZIL

Everton Vargas, Ambassador designate - Head of the Brazilian Mission to the EU

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Abu Sufian Haji Ali - Ambassador designate to Belgium

BULGARIA

Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs

CANADA

Kenneth Neufeld, Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Kabul

CHILE

Rodrigo Fernandez Gaete, Deputy Head of the Chilean Mission to the EU

CHINA

Deng Xijun, China's Special Envoy on Afghanistan Affairs

CROATIA

Miro Kovač, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

CYPRUS

Kornelios Korneliou, Permanent Representative to the EU

CZECH REPUBLIC

Vaclav Kolaja, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

DENMARK

Kristian Jensen, Minister for Foreign Affairs

EGYPT

Hamdy Loza, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

ESTONIA

Vaino Reinart, Undersecretary for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation

FINLAND

Eija Rotinen, Special Representative for Afghanistan, Deputy Director General

FRANCE

André Vallini, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie

GEORGIA

Mikheil Janelidze, Minister for Foreign Affairs

GERMANY

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister for Foreign Affairs

GREECE

Andreas Papastravou, Ambassador - Permanent Representative of Greece to the EU

HUNGARY

Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs

ICELAND

Bergdis Ellertsdottir, Ambassador - Head of the Icelandic Mission to the EU

INDIA

M. J. Akbar - Minister of State for External Affairs

INDONESIA

Yuri Octavian Thamrin, Head of the Indonesian Mission to the EU

IRAN

Morteza Sarmadi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

IRELAND

Declan Kelleher, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU

ITALY

Mario Giro, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

JAPAN

Kentaro Sonoura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs

JORDAN

Yousef  Bataineh, Ambassador - Head of the Jordanian Mission to the EU

KAZAKHSTAN

Erlan Idrissov, Minister for Foreign Affairs

KUWAIT

Jasem Albudaiwi, Ambassador designate to Belgium

KYRGYZSTAN

Erlan Abdyldayev, Minister for Foreign Affairs

LATVIA

Andrejs Pildegovics, State Secretary

LITHUANIA

Jovita Neliupšiene, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU

LUXEMBOURG

Romain Schneider, Minister for Development Cooperation

MALAYSIA

Fenny Nuli, Deputy Chief of the Malaysian Mission to the EU

MALTA

Hon Carmelo Abela, Minister for Home Affairs

MEXICO

Miguel Ruiz Cabanas, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs

MONGOLIA

Khishigdelger Davaadorj,  Ambassador - Head of the Mongolian Mission to the EU

MONTENEGRO

Vera Jolicic-Kulis, State Secretary

NETHERLANDS

Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation,

NEW ZEALAND

Murray McCully, Minister for Foreign Affairs

NORWAY

Børge Brende, Minister for Foreign Affairs

OMAN

Najeem Sulaiman Najeem, Al Abri, Ambassador - Head of the Omani Mission to the EU

PAKISTAN

Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Foreign Affairs

POLAND

Joanna Wronecka, Undersecretary of State

PORTUGAL

Nuno Brito, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the EU

QATAR

Soltan Saad Al-Moraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Yun Byung-se, Minister for Foreign Affairs

ROMANIA

Daniela Grigore-Gitman, Secretary of State for Global Affairs

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Zamir Kabulov, Special Envoy for AFG,

SAUDI ARABIA

Nizar bin Obaid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

SERBIA

Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Miroslav Lajčák, Minister for Foreign Affairs

SLOVENIA

Karl Erjavec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

SOUTH AFRICA

Baso Sangqu, Head of the South African Mission to the EU

SPAIN

Luis Felipe Fernandez de la Peña, Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan

SWEDEN

Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate and
Deputy PM

SWITZERLAND

Thomas Greminger, State Secretary

TAJIKISTAN

Aslov Sirodjidin Muhrinovich, Minister for Foreign Affairs

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Nikola Poposki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

TURKEY

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister for Foreign Affairs

TURKMENISTAN

Rashid Meredov, Minister for Foreign Affairs

UKRAINE

Mykola Tochytskyi, Ambassador - Head of the Ukrainian Mission to the EU

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Ahmad Al Jarman, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UNITED KINGDOM

Rory Stewart - Department for International Development, Minister of State

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

John Kerry, Secretary of State

UZBEKISTAN

Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister for Foreign Affairs

ADB (Asian Development Bank)

Zhang Wencai, Vice President and Thomas Panella, Afghanistan Country Director

Aga Khan  Development Network

HH Aga Khan

Nikolai Putscher, Executive Director

EIB

Werner Hoyer, President

IDB (Islamic Development Bank)

Sayed Aqa, Vice President, Cooperation and Country Programming

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Peter Maurer, President

IMF

Daniela Gressani, Deputy Director, Middle East and Central Asia Dept. and Christoph Duenwald, the Fund's mission chief for Afghanistan

IOM

William Lacy Swing, Director-General

NATO

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General

OECD

Douglas Frantz,  Deputy Secretary-General

OHCHR / UNAMA

Danielle Bell, Director of Human Rights Unit at UNAMA and Representative of OHCHR

OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)

Ms Ismat Jahan, Ambassador - Permanent Observer of the OIC Mission to the EU

OSCE

Ambassador Paul Bekkers, Director of the Office of the Secretary General

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)

Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General

SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)

Rashid Alimov, Secretary General

UNAMA

Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative

UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General

UNDP

Haoliang Xu, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

UNESCO

Irina Bokova, Director-General

UNHCR

George Okoth-Obbo, Assistant High Commissioner for Operation
Daisy Dell, Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

UNICEF

(Ms) Jean Gough, Regional Director for South Asia

UNODC

Yury Fedotov, Executive Director

UN Women

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, Executive Director

WORLD BANK

Annette Dixon, Vice-President

WFP

David Kaatrud, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific

FAO

Daniel Gustafson, Deputy Director-General

The Cooperation Council between the European Union (EU) and Kazakhstan held its fifteenth meeting on Tuesday, 4 October 2016 in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Mr Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovakia. The delegation of Kazakhstan was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Erlan A. Idrissov. Jean-Christophe Belliard, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service was also present.

The Cooperation Council welcomed the start of implementation of the enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement, provisionally applied since 1 May 2015 in a number of areas, including   political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, rule of law and justice. The Cooperation Council confirmed the mutual interest in consolidating the relations and cooperation, in particular in ensuring regional stability and development.

The Cooperation Council also discussed political, judiciary and economic reforms, the rule of law, trade and economic relations, and international issues, topics that are of importance to both parties. The Cooperation Council addressed the issues of good governance, human rights protection and civil society cooperation. It also underlined the need to maintain the right balance between legitimate security measures necessary in fighting terrorism and individual rights and freedoms.

The Cooperation Council reiterated the importance of a regional dialogue under the EU strategy for Central Asia. Regional security aspects were also discussed in relation to the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, including border management, counter-terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking.

The EU welcomed Kazakhstan's active participation in the EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting and in the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan.

The press conference following the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council will take place on 4 October 2016 at 16:10 in the main press room of Justus Lipsius building. The press conference will be given by Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia and Erlan A. Idrissov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Webcast of the press conference

Media accreditation

Wednesday 5 October 2016
Brussels Conference on Afghanistan
09.00 Opening statement
10.30 Family photo

Thursday 6 October 2016
10.30 Presentation of letters of credentials of ambassadors
14.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Andorra Antoni Martí (photo opportunity)

On 30 September 2016, in view of the gravity of the situation, the Council prolonged the sanctions against Libya targeting three persons for six months.

On 1 April 2016, the Council added three persons to the list of people subject to EU restrictive measures against Libya.  Agila Saleh, president of the Libyan Council of Deputies in the House of Representatives; Khalifa Ghweil, prime minister and defence minister of the internationally unrecognised General National Congress; and Nuri Abu Sahmain, president of the internationally unrecognised General National Congress, are viewed as obstructing the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement of 17 December 2015 and the formation of a Government of National Accord in Libya.

The Council remains concerned about the situation in Libya, and in particular about acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of the country, and that impede or undermine the successful completion of Libya's political transition. 

When we gather in places like Babi Yar, Auschwitz or Ponary, to honour the memory of the murdered victims, we helplessly search for the right words and phrases. Some, like Pope Francis, who recently visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, choose silence, which, in his case, was broken only for a short while, for the recitation of Psalm 130.

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!"

It is understandable that in the face of the Holocaust, the living seek consolation in prayer. It is also understandable that we most often choose silence, because silence can be louder than a scream. We look for ways to honour the victims in the most dignified and suitable manner, to move into the shadow, in order to see better and to better understand what happened here, and in other places of Shoah. To better understand what happened with us, with the people and with the world, in the abyss we have found ourselves together with the victims, the perpetrators, and the witnesses. Yes, common silence and common prayer are indeed appropriate in such a place and time. But silence and prayers by themselves will not be enough if we want to avoid the great moral danger, which was, and still is, present in our collective experience. According to Timothy Snyder, a historian of the Holocaust, (and his reflection is still relevant today), "The moral danger after all, is never that one might become a victim but that one might be a perpetrator or a bystander."

This is why, when we stand in silence at this mass grave, we need to remember that it is our daily duty to cry out at the top of our voice, and to act - always - when innocent people are killed, when the strong attack the weak, when children become the target of warplanes and rockets.

Confronted with evil and violence, humankind cannot be divided only into victims, perpetrators and bystanders. We must try to emulate those, who are called the Righteous Among the Nations. If we do not, why should the Lord hear our voice? Why should his ears be attentive to our pleas for mercy?

Tomorrow, we will say our last goodbye to one of those who believed that violence need not dominate in today's world, to Shimon Peres. I know that he is here with us now.  Let his belief, and that of  others, that evil can be overcome only by good, be guidance to us all. Thank you. 

On 30 September 2016, the Council agreed to speed up the process of ratification of the Paris Agreement. This agreement sets the framework for global action on climate change.

The Council decided to go ahead with ratification at EU level. Member states will ratify either together with the EU if they have completed their national procedures, or as soon as possible thereafter.

To open the way for EU ratification, ministers endorsed a Council decision on EU conclusion of the agreement and asked the European Parliament for its consent.

Once the European Parliament gives its green light, the decision on conclusion will be formally adopted by the Council. The EU will then be able to ratify the agreement.

The Slovak Minister for the Environment and president of the Council, László Sólymos said: "Today is an important day not only for our action on climate but also for unity we have demonstrated. This means that EU and its member states will add their weight to trigger the entry into force of the Paris Agreement. Europe has shown leadership in Paris and will participate in its implementation in Marrakesh. Action for climate remains essential for livelihood of our planet and future generations".

The Paris Agreement is a mixed agreement, which means that some of the issues it covers are the responsibility of the EU and others of member states. It therefore has to be ratified by both the EU and all 28 member states.

So far France, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia have completed their national ratification procedures and several others are very close to doing so.

The agreement will enter into force 30 days after the ratification by at least 55 countries accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So far 61 countries have ratified, accounting for 47.79% of global emissions.

If the threshold is met by 7 October 2016, the agreement will enter into force in time for the beginning of Marrakesh UN climate change conference (COP22) on 7 November 2016. The first meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) could therefore be convened during the conference. By ratifying the EU secures its full participation at this meeting.

Place:         Justus Lipsius building, 175 rue de la Loi, Brussels 

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 07.30
Arrivals
Live streaming

+/- 08.15 TBC
Doorstep by High Representative Federica Mogherini 

+/- 08.30
Arrival of the Afghan delegation, welcome by High Representative Federica Mogherini 

+/- 09.00       Opening session (roundtable Photo/TV opportunity Group A) 
including statements by:
President of the European Council Donald Tusk
President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
Live streaming

+/- 10.30
Family photo (Photo/TV opportunity Group B)

 11.00
Presentation by the Afghan government of the National Peace and Development Framework and the revised Self-Reliance Mutual Accountability Framework
Presentation of the World Bank economic outlook
Live streaming

11.30
Bilateral statements by partner countries and international organisations (part I)
Chaired by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani
Live streaming

12.30
Lunch 

14.00
Afghan civil society joint statement
Live streaming

14.15
Bilateral statements by partner countries and international organisations (part II)
Chaired by Minister of Finance of Afghanistan Eklil Hakimi and European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica
Live streaming

17.30
Closing session
including statements by:
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah
High Representative Federica Mogherini,
European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica
Live streaming                    

+/- 18.00
Press conference
Live streaming

Place:        Charlemagne building of the European Commission, 170 rue de la Loi, Brussels 

All times are approximate and subject to change                  

+/- 13.30
Signing of the State Building Contract
Live streaming   

Empowered Women, Prosperous Afghanistan
Live streaming

+/- 14.00 
Opening speeches                    

Session 1 - Promoting Afghan Women's Rights                    

+/- 16.15    

Session 2 - Socio-economic Empowerment of Afghan Women     

+/- 17.30 
Closing speeches  

Regional integration and prosperity 

+/- 16.00
Beginning of the event 

Recording of the introductive remarks will be published at +/- 18.00 on EbS

Dear President Rivlin,

Please accept on behalf of the European Union our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Israel on the passing of former President Shimon Peres.

With the death of the former President the world has lost a true champion of peace. An icon on the world stage who will be dearly missed for his unwavering dedication to co-existence in the Middle East and between all peoples. He was instrumental in forging close ties of friendship and cooperation between Israel and other parts of the world, including Europe.

His long career as a senior official, a minister, prime minister and most recently as President was dedicated to building a strong and secure State of Israel. But he also remained convinced that his vision for Israel could only be achieved if the Palestinians were allowed to have a state as well, living in peace and security alongside Israel. Even in the darkest of hours he stuck to the vision of a two-state solution. This will be his enduring legacy.

He was a man of tremendous wit, humour, charm, hard work and dedication. Our hearts go out to Shimon Peres' family, who has lost a father and grandfather. Israel has lost a great statesman and Europe has lost a great friend and partner.

Peres never lost his faith in peace. We must keep his legacy alive by continuing his unflagging efforts for peace, cooperation and coexistence in the Middle East and globally.

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair:        László Sólymos, Minister for the Environment of Slovakia

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 08.30
Arrivals

+/- 08.35
Doorstep by Minister László Sólymos

+/- 09.30
Beginning of Environment Council meeting (Roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda
- Paris Agreement and EU ratification
- Marrakesh UN climate change conference (COP 22)
Any other business

+/- 12.30
Press conference (live streaming)

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair(s):    Peter Žiga, Minister for the Economy of the Slovak republic

All times are approximate and subject to change

INTERNAL MARKET and INDUSTRY

+/- 09.15
Doorstep by Minsiter Žiga

+/- 10.00
Beginning of the Competitiveness Council meeting (roundtable)
Adoption of A Items (public session)

+/- 10.15
Competitiveness "check-up": access to finance for EU companies (debate)

+/- 11.00
European agenda for the collaborative economy (debate)
Any other business: Standardisation package

+/- 14.30
European steel industry (debate)
Any other business:
- Development of an ambitious industry policy in Europe
- Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy
- Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court
- Outcome of conference patents and plant breeders' rights (18 May 2016)
- Review of the supplementary protection certificates system

+/- 16.40
Press conference (life streaming)

The European Union and the government of Afghanistan will co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on 4-5 October 2016, bringing together more than 70 countries and 20 international organisations and agencies.

The aim of the conference is to endorse a realistic programme of reforms to bring about the Afghan government's vision and to ensure continued international political and financial support for political and economic stability, state-building and development over the coming four years.

The conference is taking place under the patronage of President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, who will open the event.

Securing financial support over the course of the next four years and increasing the effectiveness of aid, on the basis of a new national development framework, is crucial for the stabilisation of the country. Development and security remain interdependent challenges and need to be underpinned by genuine political support. This will involve the international community, and in particular Afghanistan's neighbours, building on an emerging regional consensus oriented towards peace and cross-border economic cooperation. 

"The Afghans need peace and stability, and we all, the European Union included, have a strong interest in supporting them", said the High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini. "Afghanistan has shown its determination, in the face of considerable challenges, to continue on the path to democracy and development. The international community, starting with our European Union, needs to keep supporting the efforts of the Afghan people towards prosperity and peace, not only financially but also politically. Our conference is the moment to do just that."

The High Representative will co-chair the conference on behalf of the EU along with Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani and Minister of Finance Eklil Hakimi will co-chair on behalf of Afghanistan. Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will also be present. Minister Eklil Hakimi said "The Government of Afghanistan is looking forward to sharing our plans to achieve self-reliance for our people with our international partners. We are also pleased to let them know about our achievements since 2014. The Brussels Conference is an opportunity for Afghanistan and its partners to reaffirm their commitments to a shared vision of peace, stability and prosperity for Afghanistan."

High level events focusing on women's empowerment and regional integration will take place on the margins of the conference, on 4 October.  

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk received the letters of credentials of the following Ambassadors:

H.E. Mr Bojan ŠARKIĆ, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of Montenegro to the European Union
H.E. Mr Urs BUCHER, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of the Swiss Confederation to the European Union
H.E. Mr Kazuo KODAMA, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of Japan to the European Union

The Council suspended the application of EU restrictive measures against the 'Fuerzas armadas revolucionarias de Colombia' ('Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia') known as 'FARC' on 27 September 2016. This decision follows the official signing on 26 September 2016 of the Colombia peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC.

The organisation has been listed since June 2002 under the so-called "EU terrorist list", which established a list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts and subject to restrictive measures. Set down in common position 2001/931/CFSP, these measures impose an asset freeze on persons, groups and entities considered as involved in terrorist acts. It also prohibits EU persons and entities to make funds and economic resources available to them. 

The Colombian government and the FARC reached agreement on a peace deal to end more than 50 years of armed conflict on 25 August 2016. The signature ceremony takes place on 26 September 2016 in Cartagena.

The decision to suspend the sanctions against the FARC was adopted by the Council by written procedure. The legal acts are published in the Official Journal of 27 September 2016.

Since the first days of the migration crisis I have had no doubt that the main key to its resolution is restoring effective control of the EU's external borders. Obviously, an essential precondition for achieving this goal is close cooperation with our partners in the Balkans and in Turkey.

Today we should discuss how to improve the effectiveness of our actions. We need to confirm, politically and in practice, that the Western Balkan route of irregular migration is closed for good. This is why I am happy that Chancellor Kern took the initiative and organised this meeting.

Saturday 24 September 2016
Vienna
11.30 Participation in the summit on migration along the Balkan route

Tuesday 27 September 2016
10.30 Presentation of letters of credentials of ambassadors

Wednesday 28 September 2016
Kiev
Dinner with President Petro Poroshenko

Thursday 29 September 2016
Kiev
(local time)
ttbc Meeting with Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman
15.00 Participation in the commemorative ceremony of the 75th anniversary of Babyn Yar

Last year I stood here to assure you that isolationism will never be Europe's policy. And I haven't changed my mind even though the last twelve months have been difficult, not least for the European Union. Europe will always stand for a free and open world governed by the rule of law, where nations can trade and grow together, instead of living in conflict, mistrust and intrigue. We treat the values upon which the European Union is founded in all seriousness. And we have the determination to seek those values on the international arena. If we fail, the world will descend into greater disorder, whose first victims are always the weakest and the poorest.

This body is in the process of choosing new leadership. This gives us an  opportunity to reflect frankly on the kind of international system we have today, and the one we want for the future. As a historian, I know why the League of Nations failed in its mission to protect peace and international security. It was paralysed by inertia, fatalism and, finally, by cowardice. As a politician, I can see similar phenomena everywhere today. This is due to the rise of fear. Fear of war, fear of terrorism and the fear of strangers. Globalisation makes fear more contagious and more potent. It dangerously links together the anxieties of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Take one example that can stand for others: the radical Islam of  Da'esh that spreads terror from Jakarta to Nice; from Tunis to Brussels, from Sirte to Orlando.

When fear takes over, nations increasingly turn away from each other. What we need to do here and now is to regain a sense of security, which is a fundamental need for every human being, as important as the need for freedom.

No challenge shows this so clearly as the issue of refugee protection and the mass displacement of persons across borders. In the last months, Europe has been confronted by the refugee crisis to a particularly large degree. Nevertheless, in all our actions aimed at solving the problem of refugees, the European Union is driven by empathy and the readiness to offer help to those in need, even if the world turns its back and pretends not to see. And still today, when we restore order on our external borders and take back control from the smugglers, the readiness to assist refugees in their plight remains our top priority.

This is why we have spent billions of euros to fund humanitarian assistance and are willing to spend much more in the months and years to come. It is our hope and expectation that global solidarity will now kick in to provide health, education and jobs for millions of people currently displaced, and to scale up resettlement. In light of this, we support the work that has now begun under the New York Declaration to find a sustainable and fair rulebook for global migration. This declaration gives us hope that the principles which have been at the heart of our response, will also form the foundation of the global response to the refugee crisis.

Europe is, and will be active everywhere where war is imminent or is already raging. And our main goal will always be peace. This is as true for civil wars in the Middle East or Africa as it is for nuclear testing and territorial disputes in Asia. It is true also on our own borders, where Ukraine has been attacked by Russia. Further afield, what we are now concerned with are conflicts in Syria, Libya and Afghanistan, where the very statehood of these countries is in danger. We fully support and stand ready to engage in the work of the United Nations, to bring parties to the negotiating table in Syria and in Libya. And in a few weeks, together with the Afghan government, the European Union will host an international conference in Brussels. This is a unique opportunity for the rest of the world to show that it cares about supporting a stable Afghanistan and the stability of the region as a whole.

This year we have also witnessed a rising wave of terror worldwide, also against the people of Europe, carried out by many terrorist organisations, in particular by Daesh. Building a global strategy and network against terrorism is key, including in preventing radicalisation and confronting the issues of foreign fighters and terrorist financing. Europe is working with partners from Asia to the Gulf and the Sahel on building up global capacities against violent extremism. We are upgrading our borders to ensure that terrorists cannot pass, or re-enter, and are working with communities to prevent young people from becoming infected with hatred. This threat will touch all of us sooner or later, which is why we should make better use of the United Nations to fight it together.

The European Union is the world's largest donor of development and humanitarian aid, and that will not change. The Sustainable Development Goals can drive reform of the international system by offering an opportunity to address many problems in one process: namely insecurity, poverty, under-development, climate change and uncontrolled migration. And, ultimately, we seek a system that ensures that everybody gets his or her fair share of the benefits of globalisation.

Lastly, I would like to say a word about the fight against climate change, to which the EU is fully committed. Europe has had a comprehensive climate change policy in place for years. Right now we are developing the laws which will allow us to reach our ambitious target for 2030, and our ratification of the Paris agreement will be completed soon. The fact that the two biggest global emitters have ratified the agreement early, is a positive sign. It shows that the readiness to take responsibility for our common future is not limited only to Europe. I am hopeful that this trend becomes contagious.

Let me say one more thing at the end: I feel that ordinary people sense a great change is coming. We should listen. We should understand. We should anticipate, not only react. Our job is to bring back a sense of direction, to bring back confidence, to bring back a sense of order. Globalisation needs credible rules to make it stable and fair, whether we talk about trade, migration or security. Thank you.

First of all, allow me also to join others in expressing appreciation for President's Obama initiative to call this meeting.

In Europe, we are in no doubt, that today, one of the most urgent actions the international community must undertake, is the strengthening of the common response to the refugee crisis.

In comparison to other states who are present here today, the European Union stood out in 2015 as unable to effectively protect its external borders. This time of uncontrolled migration is coming to an end, and it won't repeat itself. The final goal we are aiming at, is that the refugees will get asylum in EU member states through resettlement, and not by embarking on a risky often tragic journey organised by smugglers.

Our determination to protect the EU's external border does not change the fact that Europe will remain the most open continent in the world. And the EU countries together with the United States will continue to make up the backbone of world humanitarian efforts.

Let me highlight the most significant actions the European Union is currently undertaking. Our humanitarian assistance to refugees worldwide has increased, from 1.35 billion euros in 2015 to 1.7 billion euros in 2016. And here I am only talking about the EU budget and not the national budgets of our 28 member states. Part of this funding is helping children to go to school in emergency settings. We provide significant financial and technical support to those countries who host most of the Syrian refugees, notably Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Our Compacts with those countries will help both refugees and people living in host communities to access education and to find a job. With regard to the Syrian crisis specifically, the EU has provided over 6.2 billion euros, which includes 3 billion euros pledged from the Union's budget at the "Supporting Syria" conference in London last February.

And finally, we are determined to strengthen the economic resilience of the countries affected by the refugee crisis, and the European Investment Bank will play its role in this respect.

Let me invite all international partners and stakeholders to step up their contributions. Only working hand in hand can we succeed in handling the refugee crisis. Thank you.