A full agenda awaits the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, on Monday 10 May, as they will review a wide range of topical issues with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, but the session will be dominated by discussions on the Western Balkans and transatlantic relations.
Western Balkans. The ministers will have a strategic exchange of views on how the EU could have a stronger presence in this region, which is being courted by third countries such as China and Russia.
“We want to increase our presence. It is very important for our security”, stressed a senior EU official on Friday 7 May.
The discussion this time will therefore not be about the accession process of Albania and North Macedonia (see other news), but about the EU’s relationship with the Western Balkans “from a political approach”.
For the High Representative, the European perspective to be offered to these countries “is beyond any discussion”, the senior official said. The official confirmed that Josep Borrell wanted to meet with the leaders of the Western Balkan countries.
This is a geopolitical issue that will be discussed by the ministers. “We are not claiming exclusivity, but it is necessary for the EU to be a leading player in the interest of European and Western Balkan security”, the source said.
Agreeing that the issue is one of foreign influence over the region, the senior official stated that the EU recognises the sovereignty of its partners in foreign and economic policy, but that being an EU candidate country also brings obligations.
According to a diplomatic source, it will be a question of “seeing what more we can do beyond the enlargement process, through a strengthened political dialogue, a better association in common defence, in foreign policy, to show our solidarity, for example through vaccines and to help them reduce the dependencies they may have built up”.
The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will also be discussed.
Transatlantic relations. The ministers will discuss the relationship between the EU and the United States, six months after the adoption of the Joint Communication on this subject and in the era of the new Biden administration.
The discussion will focus on “what we can do and what we can take stock of, now that all the representatives have been appointed, between now and the EU-US summit, announced for mid-June: what we can propose and what we can do”, a diplomatic source summarised.
The ministers will also have an informal exchange by video conference with John Kerry, the US special envoy for climate, to discuss the recent US climate summit held at the end of April and the COP26.
Belarus. A progress report will be made for a more substantial discussion at a later stage.
After the one-year extension of the sanctions (see EUROPE 12667/23), a fourth sanctions package is being prepared, which should be implemented by June, while the European Commission is working on an economic package
Current issues.
Sahel. The High Representative will report on his trip to the Sahel (Mauritania, Chad, Mali) from 21-24 April, where he underlined the strategic importance of the region, which is crucial for European security, and demonstrated the EU’s political commitment and support (see EUROPE 12706/20, 12704/24).
“We expect a commitment from ministers to implement the new Sahel strategy, which is more political and based more on responsibility”, a senior EU official said on Friday.
Global Health. Ministers will give a short update on the Covid-19 vaccination strategy and EU solidarity with third countries, ahead of the Global Health Summit to be organised by the European Commission and the Italian G20 Presidency in Rome on 21 May (see EUROPE 12714/12).
Iran. Mr Borrell will report on the work of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which resumed on Friday 7 May in Vienna, with a view to salvaging talks on the Iranian nuclear deal. This fourth round of talks is likely to be a long one, as it aims at a possible return of the US to the JCPOA. It is therefore a matter of agreeing on how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the deal.
Afghanistan. As the withdrawal of the US and its NATO allies has begun, the ministers will take stock of the situation, which remains a major concern for the EU and its Member States. “We have to see how the Taliban will react. Our concern is to maintain the social and political progress made over the past two decades, especially for women”, stressed a senior EU official.
A diplomatic source underlined the need for the EU to continue coordinating with the different actors so that the inter-Afghan peace process can restart and to see how to continue helping the population. “We are coordinating our approaches regarding our embassies and actions”, the source said (see other news). Another source said that “civilian cooperation with the Afghans should be maintained”, security conditions permitting.
Russia. The ministers will prepare the discussion of the heads of state or government, the May 25 Summit being dedicated to Russia. By the time they meet, this issue will have been discussed by the EU27 leaders at their informal dinner in Porto on Friday evening (see EUROPE 12714/4).
On Monday, it will be a question of taking stock of the actions taken: - assessment of Russian movements on the Ukrainian border, support for Ukraine, update on the implementation of the Minsk agreement, reaction to allegations of Russian responsibility for the explosion of a warehouse in the Czech Republic and the expulsion of European diplomats and measures envisaged concerning embassies in Moscow.
No new sanction proposals will be presented and the expulsion of Russian diplomats is not envisaged. “It is not a question of responding with similar measures. Retaliation is not foreign policy “, said a senior EU official.
“We need some form of coordination that does not lead to escalation”, another source said, advocating a message of European unity.
Postponement of the Palestinian elections. The ministers will have a brief exchange regarding the postponement of the elections announced at the end of April by the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, which is of great concern to the EU.
On behalf of the EU, Josep Borrell immediately expressed his disappointment, calling for a new date to be set and reiterated his request to Israel to facilitate the holding of elections throughout the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem (see EUROPE 12710/18). “We will continue to pass on messages to obtain a new date”, a diplomatic source said on Friday.
Venezuela. A quick update will be given on the situation, including the social and economic crisis. Ministers are expected to reiterate the EU’s position.
EU Council conclusions. The EU Council will adopt conclusions on the Horn of Africa which will underline the EU’s willingness to engage more extensively and to adapt its response to the new worrying developments in Ethiopia and Somalia, with the necessary mobilisation of the international community.
In London, G7 Foreign Ministers expressed deep concern about the continuing violence and deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia, and welcomed the agreement between the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate human rights violations and abuses. They also expressed alarm that the withdrawal of Eritrean troops had not started.
Regarding Somalia, the G7 Foreign Affairs Ministers expressed dismay at the decision to extend Mohamed Farmajo’s mandate by two years and welcomed the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council to appoint a special envoy.
This new EU strategy for the Horn of Africa will be a parallel process to the one recently adopted for the Sahel.
The ministers will also adopt, without debate, the conclusions on security and defence endorsed by the EU Defence Ministers on Thursday 6 May (see EUROPE 12712/15). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)