The European Union and the region of Kaliningrad

The Council welcomed the Commission communication of 17 January on the EU and Kaliningrad as providing a good basis for developing further EU co-operation with Russia and neighbouring countries in order to address specific problems related to the Kaliningrad region, regarding the movement of goods and people, energy supplies, fisheries, economic development, governance, democracy and the rule of law, environment and health. The Council therefore agreed on the following procedural aspects : - to take note of the Presidency/Commission/Secretariat initial discussions on Kaliningrad in the context of the consultation process leading up to the Foreign Ministers' conference on Northern Dimension in Luxembourg on 9 April; - to instruct Working Parties on Eastern Europe and Central Asia to assume the overall responsibility in preparing the EU positions on Kaliningrad; - to instruct the Working Party on Central Europe to examine the relevant parts of the Communication, in particular with a view to identifying possibilities for further co-operation with Poland and Lithuania, and report back in due time before the Co-operation Council with Russia on 10 April 2001; - to note that the Presidency may, if necessary, ask also other Council bodies to contribute in developing an EU position on Kaliningrad; - to look forward to discussions with Russia on the situation of Kaliningrad within the framework of the PCA, i.e. in the relevant sub-committees and at the forthcoming fourth meeting of the Co-operation Council; and to note the intention of the Presidency to revert to this issue at the level of the Council with a view to developing further EU positions. �