The European Union underlines its continued commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and its support for the policy of engagement pursued by the Republic of Korea. It welcomes the agreement reached by the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, following talks in New York from 27 February through 15 March 1999. It sees in this agreement a reaffirmation by the U.S. and the DPRK of their commitment to the Geneva Agreed Framework of 1994.

The EU also draws attention to the outline agreement reached between the European Commission and DPRK negotiators which, subject to normal EU decision-making procedures, would provide for an EU food aid and agricultural rehabilitation programme for 1999, worth 30 million Euro. Moreover, the EU underscores its willingness to consider holding a second round of political dialogue with the DPRK later this year, depending on progress on the Korean Peninsula.

The Union believes that these developments constitute positive steps towards a lessening of tensions and the building of trust among all parties interested in an improvement of the overall situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated country Cyprus and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.