European Foreign Ministers will meet on Monday 13 July in Brussels. At their first physical meeting since the Covid-19 crisis, the Ministers will have a full agenda: relations with Turkey, cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean in connection with Covid-19, the situation in Hong Kong, Venezuela, and Libya, and the resumption of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
Turkey. Ministers will therefore revisit the increasingly complex relations between the EU and Turkey. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who was in Turkey on Monday 6 July, is expected to brief the EU Council on the messages he conveyed to Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and on his replies (see EUROPE 12522/23). According to a senior diplomat, Mr Borrell is expected to present ideas on how to move forward to ameliorate these “very difficult relations”. The diplomat added that Mr Borrell had been working on this since his March visit to Ankara after the tensions at the Greek-Turkish border (see EUROPE 12443/6).
“It will be up to the ministers to decide what needs to be done”, explained one European source, who pointed out that although the EU does not want an escalation, it must defend its principles, values and interests. “Seeking calm also means seeking to protect them”, the source added.
While the issue of additional sanctions is not expected to be put on the ministers’ table, some of them may nevertheless talk about it, according to the senior diplomat.
Latin America and the Caribbean. The EU Council will then discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Latin America and the Caribbean and the assistance that the EU can provide. This discussion is in line with those of the last few weeks, first on the neighbourhood and then on Asia, in relation to the pandemic. Beyond the issue of Covid-19, while Latin America and the Caribbean are among the regions of the world most affected by the pandemic, the ministers may take stock of how to renew dialogue and to work with this part of the world. The High Representative wants the EU to engage more with this region of the world (see EUROPE 12511/28).
Venezuela. Under the topic of ‘current affairs’, Ministers are expected to discuss briefly the situation in Venezuela and further action that the EU could take, among other things. Bilateral relations became more tense after the adoption of new, restrictive European measures (see EUROPE 12516/28), which almost led to the expulsion of the ambassador leading the EU delegation in Caracas (see EUROPE 12519/37).
Hong Kong. Similarly, Europe's reaction to the adoption of the National Security Act in Hong Kong and the consequences already visible in the city-state are expected to be addressed. One source stated that the situation needs to be accurately assessed, adding that “inaction is not an option, and measures must be taken”. The discussion will be “an opportunity to see how to better support the citizens and civil society of Hong Kong”, according to this source. According to one senior diplomat, it is apparently less a matter of discussing actions concerning mainland China than of being relevant to Hong Kong.
Serbia/Kosovo. Finally, the High Representative may also brief the EU Council on the resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. After a virtual summit with the French and German leaders on Friday 10 July and a virtual meeting on Sunday 12 July (see EUROPE 12521/31), Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić may, according to diplomatic sources, meet again this week in Brussels, possibly on Thursday 16 July. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)