EU to tighten Syria sanctions

On the agenda

Foreign ministers from the European Union are to explore how to encourage reform in Zimbabwe when they meet on Monday (23 July). The EU has this year begun a re-engagement process, resulting in Zimbabwe being granted duty-free access to the EU market since mid-May. They will discuss the balance between easing sanctions to boost the Zimbabwean economy against warnings that allies of the country's long-time leader, Robert Mugabe, are setting up a “parallel government”. One option is to lift a 2002 ban on the channelling of aid through government structures.

The EU wants a referendum on a new constitution this autumn to be followed next year by presidential elections, as well as reform of the security sector and greater efforts to curb corruption.

Ministers will also review the situation in Mali, whose deteriorating security situation is compounding a food crisis affecting millions along the Sahara's southern fringe and risks destabilising the region. Islamist forces now command the north of the country, while in the south an interim government is struggling to re-assert authority following a short-lived coup in March.

It is possible that EU ministers will decide to impose sanctions on the coup leaders, but the principal outcome will be a strong statement of concern, underlining the EU's commitment to support regional and international efforts to stabilise the country.

The African Union and the 15-nation regional security body, Ecowas, on 5 July failed to secure UN and EU support for the deployment of between 3,000 and 5,000 troops. However, the UN has not ruled out support once more details are supplied and the text to be discussed by the EU ministers on Monday contains technical elements that, according to a diplomat, could prepare the way for the EU to provide financial and logistical assistance to an Ecowas mission. France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Thursday (12 July) that “once the rule of law is re-established in the south [of the country], one must look at the north, meaning that at some point it's probable there will be use of force”.