The aim of this forum is to develop new recommendations to enhance the European Union's foreign policy on human rights

The 9th EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council, to be held on the margins of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, will help to evaluate the progress of the action plan adopted in 2006, the date on which the EU decided to include the countries of the Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia) in its neighbourhood policy.

In a context marked particularly by this summer's crisis, the 9th EU-Georgia Cooperation Council should enable a review of the relations between the EU and Georgia and confirm Tbilisi's commitment to continuing the implementation of the 2006 action plan.

The 9th EU-Armenia Cooperation Council will take place on the margins of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels. It is an excellent opportunity to take stock of relations between the EU and Armenia, particularly in relation to progress on the 2006 action plan.

The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council is being held in Brussels on 8 and 9 December to examine, in particular, the energy-climate legislative package.

Bernard Kouchner chaired the General Affairs and External Relations on 8 December.

The ministers will prepare the European Council meeting of the 27 Heads of State and Government on 11 and 12 December.

The European Parliament is meeting on 3 and 4 December in Brussels for an additional plenary session. The Council of the European Union and the European Commission are scheduled to present the MEPs with statements on the preparation of the European Council of 11 and 12 December 2008 and on the state of the negotiations on the energy-climate change package.