They considered a draft agenda for the EU summit in Brussels on December 14 and 15 which will focus on enlargement.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn briefed the ministers about last week's progress reports on accession candidates and potential candidates, and about a strategy for further EU enlargement. These documents will provide the basis for discussion at the summit.
The foreign ministers mandated the European Commission to launch negotiations on simplifying the procedure for issuing visas to citizens of Western Balkan countries.
This decision was applauded by Rehn and Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini. It refers to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo, whose citizens cannot travel to any EU country without a visa.
These negotiations will run parallel to those on readmission with the above states, except with Albania, which has already signed a readmission agreement with the EU.
Frattini said the negotiations were expected to start on November 30 and end by June 2007 at the latest.