Brussels, 03/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Ukrainian crisis and relations with Russia will be at the centre of the discussions at the Informal Foreign Affairs Council (Gymnich) on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 April in Athens, Greece.
In a letter of invitation dated 21 March to European foreign affairs ministers, of which EUROPE has obtained a copy, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, explained that this penultimate Gymnich meeting of her mandate would, “be dedicated principally to the EU's neighbourhoo, in light of recent developments and the attention that this rightly commands in our foreign policy”.
At the Friday working lunch and formal session, ministers will discuss the EU's Eastern and Mediterranean partnerships in light of recent events, including the Ukrainian crisis. Ashton has invited the chairman of the European parliament's foreign affairs committee, Elmar Brok, to take part in the lunch session's exchange of views.
On Saturday, European ministers will be joined by their counterparts from accession candidate countries for a breakfast session, “to exchange views on the wider implications of developments in the neighbourhood”, building on the discussions they had during the dinner in Brussels on February 10, explained Ashton. According to the Greek presidency, talks are also expected to focus on European Neighbourhood Policy. In her letter, Ashton explained that this invitation was made, “In light of the extraordinary circumstances of recent months.”
The final working session will focus on the EU's strategic partners, including Russia, “with consideration also of how recent events are impacting on those key relations”, explained Ashton.
Ashton also explained that if other urgent issues appeared, they would be added to the Informal Council's agenda. (CG)