The EU Foreign Ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 22 March for a ‘Foreign Affairs’ EU Council with a heavy agenda, in particular with a view to preparing the European Council on Turkey and Russia.
Russia. After a long debate during the EU Council of 22 February, this time the EU Council will briefly take stock of relations with Russia.
Speaking to the press on Thursday 18 March, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stressed the need to fully implement the five guiding principles (see EUROPE 12681/23).
“These principles are still the framework for dealing with Russia, but we need to work on this framework in different directions” and make these principles operational, a senior EU official explained on Friday 19 March. “We have to be able to find the levers”, added a European diplomat. He said that the ministers could in particular address how to strengthen EU support for civil society in a difficult context and how to ensure the EU’s resilience to Russia’s hybrid and disinformation actions.
The aim is to have a complete picture of the positions of the different Member States ahead of the European Council discussion.
Turkey. The ministers will also discuss relations with Turkey. The High Representative is expected to present his report on relations with Ankara to them before presenting it to EU leaders. According to an EU diplomat, the ministers will give their guidance, especially on foreign policy issues related to Turkey.
“The situation is better, more positive”, a senior EU official acknowledged, adding that the discussion on Monday should allow for the final touches to be put on the High Representative’s report, which is intended to be “comprehensive”. On the European side, “there is more unity than before” on the Turkish issue, he said, adding that the EU could act in a more united way, as Turkish actions had taken a turn more in line with European expectations.
In fact, Turkey has withdrawn its ships from the waters disputed with Greece and has started exploratory talks with the Greek government. A meeting on the Cyprus issue is also scheduled for the end of April.
“There is still a lot to be done before we can go for a really positive commitment”, the senior official said. However, for one European diplomat, “everyone feels that declarations must be translated into sustainable actions and behaviour”.
“We will discuss a positive agenda, but there are still things that we cannot accept from the Turkish side”, the official said, without giving further details. The Rule of law in Turkey, which is far from improving, should be taken into account, according to another source.
“We have to see if Turkey’s behaviour is sustainable. We are more than 3 months away (compared to the December European Council). It’s hard to judge”, explained one diplomat.
Thus, if the Heads of State or Government discuss relations with Turkey (see other news), they could give themselves some time and come back to the issue in June.
Southern Neighbourhood. The ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council of the EU will exchange views on relations with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood, where EU leaders adopted conclusions on the subject in February (see EUROPE 12667/2), following the publication of the Joint Communication from the Commission and the High Representative (see EUROPE 12654/8).
“There is a shared feeling that we need to re-engage with the region”, said a European diplomat. “The ministers will be asked to give guidelines so that the EU Council can then adopt conclusions, which everyone wants to be ambitious and which will prioritise what needs to be done”, he said.
These conclusions could be adopted at the April ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council of the EU at the latest.
Myanmar. Ministers are expected to quickly address the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and adopt sanctions against the military and military-controlled entities.
According to an EU diplomat, the EU Council will adopt both targeted measures and a broadening of the possible scope of EU action, so that further sanctions can be taken if necessary. Currently, the EU has a sanctions regime related to human rights violations in relation to the Rohingya situation that is not configured for a coup.
“We have tried, within the existing framework, to punish those responsible for the coup and human rights violations, and we have proposed an adaptation of the criteria. The idea is to be able to target entities that generate income for the army and those responsible for the coup”, he explained.
Human Rights. The EU Council is also expected to adopt sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations around the world. Eleven individuals and four entities from China, Russia, Eritrea, North Korea, Libya and South Sudan will be subject to measures, according to diplomats.
The ministers will also hold talks, via video conference, with Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the state of human rights around the world, cooperation between the UN and the EU in this area and ways to make the UN system more effective.
“It is a question of showing the EU’s support for Ms Bachelet’s work at a time when she is being challenged by non-virtuous or not very virtuous States, which are trying to limit her capacity to act”, explained an EU diplomat.
Georgia. The EU Council will discuss the political polarisation in Georgia, as the EU tries to mediate between the political parties to improve the situation (see EUROPE 12679/20).
On Friday 19 March, the European mediator, Christian Danielsson, explained that while “significant progress has been made on several aspects of the six-point plan” of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, “on other issues there has been less progress” between the ruling party and the Georgian opposition parties.
The ruling party and the opposition are shifting the blame for the failure of the talks. Mr Danielsson returned to Brussels the same day to report to Mr Michel.
Western Balkans. The ministers will quickly touch upon the Western Balkans, before a more in-depth discussion, probably in April, on the EU’s political involvement in this region, particularly in the fight against foreign interference.
Venezuela. The ministers will take stock of the humanitarian and political crises in Venezuela, as the EU ambassador, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, was forced to leave the country in response to the additional sanctions the EU imposed on the Maduro regime at the end of February (see EUROPE 12663/3).
The Europeans have reportedly not been in contact with the Venezuelan political authorities since Brilhante Pedrosa’s expulsion, according to a European source consulted on Thursday 18 March. On the other hand, discussions are taking place with Washington, where the Biden administration is currently reviewing its position on Venezuela.
Hong Kong. Several Member States may also discuss the situation in Hong Kong, following the vote by the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China to change the Hong Kong electoral system (see EUROPE 12677/18).
On 22 February, the EU Council warned that it might take further action in light of this vote (see EUROPE 12672/4).
“We are working on the measures that will be taken to work on the deterioration of the situation”, explained a European diplomat. However, as the reform has not yet entered into force, the Europeans could wait before taking these additional measures.
According to a senior official, ministers are expected to come back on the issue next month.
CSDP. Without debate, ministers will reportedly agree to the launch of the European Peace Facility (see EUROPE 12626/18). The aim is to formally launch the Facility in July, as originally planned. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Mathieu Bion)