EU foreign ministers will discuss relations with Turkey and Russia at an informal meeting (a ‘Gymnich’) in Zagreb that has been restricted to a single day on Thursday 5 March because of an extraordinary meeting of the Council of the EU on Friday 6 March.
The topics for discussion were decided before tensions escalated in north-eastern Syria (see EUROPE 12437/8).
The ministers will discuss Russia, the subject of a two-pronged approach under EU policy. Russia is subject to sanctions in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of the Crimea; the EU is applying a policy of engagement with it in accordance with five guiding principles.
Russia, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is still also an important foreign policy partner, with respect to Iran's nuclear programme, Syria or Libya, security issues, and climate change. Human rights in Russia might also be addressed.
The discussion may be an opportunity to discuss the French initiative to strengthen relations with Russia. Paris wishes to re-engage in a more fully developed “security and confidence” dialogue with Moscow. While several European partners are concerned about this openness towards Moscow, Paris has stated that this re-engagement will not call into question the positions adopted at European level, either with regard to sanctions or the five main principles.
The Netherlands may also draw attention to the start on 9 March of the court case examining the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014 in a conflict zone controlled by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine (see EUROPE 11125/2).
Turkey will also be central to the debate. As an EU candidate country where negotiations have stalled because of human rights violations, Turkey is also a strategic partner for the EU in a number of areas. The discussions should therefore be wide-ranging, according to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and should include: the rule of law, actions in the region, particularly in Syria, Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean (see EUROPE 12435/4), migration, prospects for accession, and modernisation of the Customs Union.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is expected to brief ministers on his visit to the country on 3-4 March, following the rise in tensions in north-east Syria. The situation in Syria and the consequences for migration will be discussed at the exceptional EU Council meeting on 6 March.
Because the Gymnich has been restricted to half a day instead of two, the discussion on working methods required to increase the efficiency of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) will only come under ‘any other business’ at this exceptional EU Council meeting. Borrell used to criticise the conduct of Foreign Affairs Council meetings when he was Spanish Foreign Minister (see EUROPE 12091/17). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)