Foreign Minister János Martonyi will represent the Hungarian government at the forthcoming meeting in Luxembourg of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the General Affairs Council (GAC) on June 14. Foreign ministers and the EU ministers in charge of national development are also scheduled to meet on the sidelines.

The agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting includes several high-priority foreign policy topics: the situation in Gaza, Iran, Haiti, the EU’s role in Somalia, the Western Balkans, Cuba, and preparations for the OSCE’s informal foreign ministerial meeting in July.

As regards the situation in Gaza, the ministers will discuss the attack on the “Gaza fleet” and the related investigation, as well as the situation of the Gaza blockade.

The item concerning Iran will cover coordination of a new sanction package adopted by the UN Security Council, as well as related EU steps.

On the subject of Haiti, the ministers are expected to focus on EU crisis-management mechanisms.

The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the start of Accession and Stability Pact talks with Southern Caucasian countries.

Preparations for the UN’s informal foreign ministerial meeting in July will call for an exchange between foreign ministers on the Corfu process. The subject of Cuba will be raised: a council conclusion is planned to be approved in connection with the Caribbean country.

Two topics will be discussed at a foreign ministerial luncheon: the EU mission in Somalia and the Western Balkans. In connection with the latter, the ministers will follow up a conference in Sarajevo, review the situation in Serbia and Macedonia, and discuss the issue of visa liberalisation in Albania and Bosnia. Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY) in The Hague, will attend the luncheon and is expected to give an assessment on Serbia and Croatia’s cooperation. Another council conclusion is expected to be approved on this matter.

An orientation talk will be held by EU development ministers in Luxembourg on gender equality and EU initiatives in connection with the Millennium Development Goals. Further, they will review the topic of piracy under the heading “East Africa”.

On the sidelines of the Council session, the EU-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is due to hold a Joint Council and Ministerial meeting for the 20th time in Luxembourg.

On the morning of the Council meeting, the grouping “Moldova’s friends” will hold talks in the framework of an informal working breakfast.

The afternoon session of the General Affairs Council will have the primary aim of preparing the June 17th, 2010 meeting of the European Council, and, in this framework, ministers will discuss the main issues on the summit’s agenda and conclusions planned for adoption.

The agenda of the one-day summit of heads of state and government will be dominated by the Europe 2020 Strategy for boosting growth and employment, steps to improve Europe’s competitiveness and to better coordinate European economic policy. The goal of heads of state and government will be to adopt the Europe 2020 Strategy and reinforce political commitment to the coordination of economic policy. The General Affairs Council will have the task of preparing the European summit, with particular regard to the outcome of consultations in other council forums.

According to the plans of the current Spanish rotating Presidency, the General Affairs Council will agree on a general approach to the European citizens’ initiative, which will be the first time that EU citizens are offered an opportunity to express their ideas and directly influence the shaping of European policy. Once the General Affairs Council has approved the general approach, including detailed arrangements, the presidency will begin consultations with the European Parliament. The aim is for the regulation come into force on December 1, 2010.

At the council session, the European Commission will give a briefing on the report on the implementation of Cohesion Policy 2010, and inform participants about the regions on the Union’s periphery. Council conclusions are expected to be adopted on both issues.

The Presidency will give a briefing on the outcome of negotiations with the European Parliament on the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The ministers are also expected to exchange views on whether accession talks should be opened with Iceland, which submitted its application for accession in July 2009; in February 2010, the Commission made a recommendation to the Council on opening accession talks. The European Council will be able make an official decision on June 17, 2010 on opening the talks, provided there is unanimous backing for this among the Member States.