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Council of the European Union    13/11/2017  Resilience in EU's external action: Counil adopts conclusions The Council adopted conclusions on a strategic approach to resilience in the EU's external action. The EU strategy for resilience building aims at moving from crisis containment to a more structural and long-term approach to global challenges. It puts a particular emphasis on anticipation, prevention and preparedness. The Council invited the High Representative, the Commission and the member states to take forward the work on the four building blocks proposed in the joint communication by the High Representative and the Commission of 7 June 2017: improving the shared analysis of risk at country and regional level more dynamic monitoring of external pressures integrating the resilience approach into current EU programming and into reflections on the future of financing EU external action developing international policy and practice on resilience This work forms one of the major pillars of the implementation of the EU Global Strategy. Read the full text of the Council conclusions Joint Communication: A Strategic Approach to Resilience in the EU's External Action Factsheet on a strategic approach to resilience in the EU's external action 13/11/2017 South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia: EU appoints new Special Representative Today, the Council appointed Toivo Klaar as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. His task will be to contribute to a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region, namely the crisis in Georgia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as to encourage regional cooperation. In particular, the Special Representative co-chairs and participates on behalf of the EU in the Geneva International Discussions on the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia. Toivo Klaar is currently Head of the Central Asia Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and prior to this appointment served as Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. He is a senior diplomat with extensive experience both in the EEAS and in the Estonian diplomatic service. Toivo Klaar succeeds Ambassador Herbert Salber (of German nationality), who had held the post since 8 July 2014. 13/11/2017  Venezuela: EU adopts conclusions and targeted sanctions On 13 November, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions on Venezuela,  and agreed on targeted sanctions in view of its concerns at the situation in the country. "Council conclusions on Venezuela The European Union (EU) recalls its Council conclusions of July 2016 and May 2017 and reaffirms that constructive dialogue and negotiation are the only sustainable way to address the current crisis and to respond to the pressing needs of the people of Venezuela. Therefore it stands ready to support a credible negotiation involving all relevant actors that can lead to shared solutions to the multiple challenges in the country. Recently, the 15 October Gubernatorial elections took place amidst reported numerous irregularities and the results were not recognised by a large part of the opposition. The EU calls for full transparency on the results of these elections through a comprehensive and independent audit. In order to regain the people's trust in elections, it is important to ensure credible electoral processes and a more balanced composition of the National Electoral Council. The EU also expresses its concern about the lack of respect for the constitutionally established mechanisms in the appointment and functioning of the new Governors, including the disqualification of the Governor-elect of Zulia State.  These developments have accentuated the political polarisation in the country. The setting-up of an all-powerful Constituent Assembly further eroded the democratic and independent institutions. The EU reiterates that it cannot recognise the Constituent Assembly or its acts because of serious concerns about its legitimacy and representativeness. The EU recalls the importance of the respect for the prerogatives of the National Assembly and its Members and the independence of the judiciary. Reports, including by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms are an additional reason for alarm, as are the increasing urgent needs of the population that are affecting their rights, such as the right to food and the right to health. In this context, in addition to its political and diplomatic efforts in support of a peaceful negotiated way out of the political crisis, the Council has today decided by unanimity to adopt restrictive measures, underscoring its concerns with the situation in the country. These consist of an embargo on arms and on related material that might be used for internal repression, as well as a legal framework for a travel ban and assets freeze. These measures will be used in a gradual and flexible manner and can be expanded, by targeting those involved in the non-respect of democratic principles or the rule of law and the violation of human rights. The measures can be reversed depending on the evolution of the situation in the country, in particular the holding of credible and meaningful negotiations, the respect for democratic institutions, the adoption of a full electoral calendar and the liberation of all political prisoners. These measures were designed not to harm the Venezuelan population whose plight the EU wishes to alleviate. The primary responsibility for ending the crisis in Venezuela lies in the country. The EU calls upon the government to urgently restore democratic legitimacy, including through free and fair elections, and on the opposition to continue engaging in a united manner towards a negotiated solution to the current tensions, in the interest of the country. The EU reiterates its full support to regional and international efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis." 13/11/2017  Council agrees to launch negotiations to modernise association agreement with Chile On 13 November, the Council approved a mandate to negotiate the modernisation of the existing association agreement with Chile. Political and economic relations between the EU and Chile are governed by the association agreement signed in 2002. The agreement was provisionally applied, including the trade provisions, in 2003, while the rest of the agreement has been implemented in 2005. A modernised Agreement should frame EU-Chile relations by encompassing political, security, sectorial cooperation and trade matters. The main objective is to deepen EU-Chile relations. On trade matters, the implementation of the current agreement has led to a substantial increase in trade in goods and services between the EU and Chile: Chilean exports of agricultural/food products and services to the EU have nearly tripled while EU exports to Chile have doubled in most sectors. However, the existing agreement does not address some important trade and investment issues, such as specific provisions on investment, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights and some geographical indications and contributions to sustainable development. By filling these gaps, a modernised EU-Chile association agreement will provide for the possibility of strengthening existing cooperation, lowering consumer prices, improving market access and creating job and growth opportunities. Throughout the negotiations, the EU will aim to ensure the highest levels of social, labour and environmental protections and promoting social justice and sustainable development. On the basis of this mandate, the EU will be able to start negotiations with Chile. The first round of talks will begin on 16 November 2017. 13/11/2017  Defence cooperation: 23 member states sign joint notification on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) On 13 November 2017 ministers from 23 member states signed a joint notification on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and handed it over to the High Representative and the Council. The possibility of the Permanent Structured Cooperation in the area of defence security and defence policy was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. It foresees the possibility of a number of EU member states working more closely together in the area of security and defence. This permanent framework for defence cooperation will allow those member states willing and able to jointly develop defence capabilities, invest in shared projects, or enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces. The member states who signed the joint notification are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, ContactsSpain and Sweden. It is possible for other member states to join at a later stage. The joint notification is the first formal step to set up the PESCO. It sets out: the principles of the PESCO, in particular underlining that the "PESCO is an ambitious, binding and inclusive European legal framework for investments in the security and defence of the EU's territory and its citizens"  the list of "ambitious and more binding common commitments" the member states have agreed to undertake, including "regularly increasing defence budgets in real terms in order to reach agreed objectives", proposals on PESCO governance, with an overarching level maintaining the coherence and the ambition of the PESCO, complemented by specific governance procedures at projects level. Joint notification by member states to the High Representative and to the Council on PESCO Next steps The Council now has to adopt a decision establishing PESCO by reinforced qualified majority. This could take place at the next Foreign Affairs Council (11 December). A first list of projects to be undertaken within the PESCO framework should be agreed by the participating member states once PESCO has been established. These could cover areas such as training, capabilities development and operational readiness in the field of defence. EU cooperation on security and defence Permanent structured cooperation factsheet (EEAS)