Measures for inter-Korean rapprochement

The EU hailed the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang as a success and intends to assess the results in due course. In line with the Council conclusions of 19 July 1999 on the Korean Peninsula, the EU would now like to express its desire to encourage the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to continue the inter-Korean reconciliation process as well as the dialogue and negotiation with the various parties involved in the discussions to ensure the stability and security of the Korean Peninsula. The EU therefore plans to implement the following measures in the short term, without prejudice to its support for KEDO (in the context of the ongoing negotiations) and to maintenance of structural humanitarian and food aid.

1. Stepping up of the political dialogue making it possible not only to gain a better idea of the views of the DPRK, especially in the context of the present developments, but also to stress the concerns and expectations of the EU. The next political dialogue meeting could, therefore, be held in the troika format in Pyongyang, at "Asia Directors" level.

2. Increasing the DPRK's access to experience gained in the area of confidence-building measures by organising seminars and visits to appropriate European institutions and by promoting cooperation with the DPRK in the ARF.

3. Implementation of preparatory measures by the Commission in particular (feasibility studies, identification missions) with a view to possible medium-term technical assistance measures in priority sectors. These measures will reflect the European Union's objective of promoting positive changes, particularly to benefit the neediest people, including in the economic sphere.

4. Examination of the possibilities of improving DPRK access to the European market.

Implementation of these measures will be regularly assessed. Depending on the findings, and on the progress made by the DPRK in accommodating the concerns expressed by the EU in July 1999 in particular, further measures may be envisaged."