Agenda reflects growing presence on world scene

A wide-ranging foreign policy agenda adopted at the summit reflects Sweden's activism during its presidency and the growing EU presence on the world scene. Relations with the US and Russia, the conflicts in Macedonia and the Middle East, ballistic missile proliferation, and a strengthening of the EU's commitment to the United Nations are the main themes.

President Bush's visit to Gothenburg "provided an opportunity to reconfirm the core values and shared objectives which are the foundations of the transatlantic community", according to the summit conclusions. Joint foreign policy action on the Middle East, the western Balkans and the Korean peninsula are identified.

The EU and the US agreed to disagree on climate change, but will continue a dialogue. They will also co-operate on HIV/AIDS in Africa and work towards a new multilateral trade round at the World Trade Organisation.

Relations with Russia include intensified economic and energy co-operation, with serious concern expressed about human rights violations in Chechnya and threats to Russia's independent media.

The summit adopted a declaration on Macedonia, underlining the inviolability of its borders as one multi-ethnic state. A political solution to the conflict there requires dialogue between the majority Slav and minority Albanian parties, substantial constitutional reform and a consolidated ceasefire. The EU is to set up an office in Skopje to work on this agenda, including security co-operation with NATO.

A meeting next Monday will assess progress and consider whether NATO troops should be deployed to maintain a ceasefire. The US is resisting that.

The summit underlined the EU's commitment to develop its conflict prevention and crisis management capabilities, using military and civilian means. It noted progress in agreeing permanent arrangements permitting EU access to NATO assets. Development of the European Security and Defence Policy "strengthens the Union's capacity to contribute to international peace and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. The EU recognises the UN Security Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security." Substantial progress is reported in co-operation with the UN.

The summit adopted a declaration aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery by ballistic missiles. It commits EU member-states to strict enforcement of national and multilateral export controls and undertakes that the EU will play a leading role in this sphere.

This commitment is part of a wider strategy by the leading member-states to address President Bush's plans for an anti-missile defence system. French and German leaders remain deeply sceptical, while the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, said here he is willing to discuss it.

The summit expressed full support for the report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict prepared by Senator George Mitchell and a team that included the EU's security chief, Dr Javier Solana. It called for and end to violence, a freezing of Israeli settlement activity and a lifting of border closures on migrant workers.