The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called, on Thursday 18 March, for the full implementation of the guiding principles governing relations between Russia and the EU (see EUROPE 12663/1).
Relations with Moscow will be discussed by foreign ministers on Monday 22 March and then at the European Council on 25 March, with the aim of defining a way forward.
“One thing is sure: only European unity, fully embedded in the five guiding principles, implementing all of them, and I mean all of them, can define future relations” with Russia, he explained at a press briefing with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio. These five principles are: the Minsk agreements, relations with the neighbourhood, EU resilience to Russian threats, selective engagement with Russia, and support for Russian civil society and people-to-people contacts.
The High Representative also touched on Turkey, which will be another topic of discussion at the summit. He will present a report on the state of relations to the EU Foreign Ministers on 22 March, and then to the Heads of State and Government, which will “outline current trends”, which are rather positive, “and suggest to consolidate a constructive attitude while at the same time being ready to take measures, if necessary”.
In preparation for the European Council, the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission will hold telephone talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday.
Finally, Mr Borrell praised Italy’s important contribution to the Libyan issue, particularly with regard to the launch of Operation Irini, for which it hosts the headquarters. He said that there was a prospect of peace with the new government (see EUROPE 12677/19), but that “there was still a long way to go and required consolidation efforts”. "But the window of opportunity is there, we have to use it”, he stressed. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)