Brussels, 16/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - During the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 19 January, the EU 28's foreign affairs ministers will discuss the external aspects of terrorism.
Ministers are expected to discuss implementing what has already been decided - such as the strategy on foreign fighters which was adopted in October, and the different measures that the EU wants to apply with its partners in the region. According to a senior European source, the EU is already in contact with them to try and set up concrete projects to help them buttress their capacity for fighting terrorism. It is also about developing the effectiveness of the expertise, and about working on communication and the types of action that can be taken to fight against radicalisation of the population in these countries, the source added. The EU foreign ministers are also expected to discuss the major crises in the region which are feeding the phenomenon of foreign fighters. This discussion will be an initial step in this field as the ministers will return to the subject at the Council on 9 February.
The ministers will have an initial “strategic discussion” on relations between the EU and Russia. “The states have been asked to hold a discussion on the principle, and possibly the method, but not to take a decision on Monday”, said a national source. “Federica Mogherini's idea is to see how possible it is to have a useful dialogue with Russia - and to see progressively and gradually, according to the discussions with Ukraine and the Minsk agreements, how to identify mutually beneficial areas for sectoral cooperation”, the source added, stressing that it was not about “business as usual” (see EUROPE 11231).
The Council will also return to the situation in Libya, and the ministers' discussions will contribute to the talks between the Libyan parties that resumed on 14 January, in Geneva. If the talks are positive the ministers will consider how to support the process, but if they are not, it will have to be seen what lessons are to be learned - for example in terms of sanctions, the source stated. The Council could discuss the member states' readiness to see the EU participate in monitoring a ceasefire, and it could also discuss the future to be given to the European EUBAM mission (which is due to expire in May).
Over lunch, the ministers will talk to the secretary general of the Arab League, Nabil El Araby, about EU-Arab League cooperation, and they will discuss the situation in Libya, Iraq and Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (CG)