The foreign affairs ministers will meet again on Monday 27 May for another ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council, with the now classic issues of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Middle East on the agenda.
Ukraine. After a traditional exchange, by videoconference, with their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, who will report on the latest developments on the ground, the ministers will discuss the situation in Ukraine, which is difficult both on the battlefield and in the air. They will review the EU’s commitments in Ukraine, in particular its military commitments (see other news).
The ministers are due to return to the European Peace Facility and its new ‘Ukraine’ window, while seven decisions still need to be adopted before the funds can be released (see other news). These decisions are currently being blocked by Hungary.
The ‘Peace Summit’, scheduled to take place in Switzerland in mid-June, could also be discussed. More than 70 delegations have already confirmed their attendance, according to a senior European official. The official explained that the EU hoped that a framework would emerge for future peace negotiations in Ukraine, respecting international law.
The ministers will discuss the 14th package of sanctions against Russia currently being negotiated. The aim is reportedly to have it adopted by the European Council at the end of June. They could adopt the new sanctions regime linked to human rights violations in Russia and measures linked to disinformation.
In addition, the Italian minister may give an update on the discussions held at the G7 Finance Summit on 24 and 25 May on the use of the profits from frozen Russian assets. While the EU Council formally approved the legislative proposal to mobilise the profits generated by these assets (see EUROPE 13413/21) on 21 May, the United States has called on the G7 members to be more ambitious.
Middle East. The ministers will discuss the Middle East. They will hold talks with their Saudi, Jordanian, Egyptian, Emirati and Qatari counterparts and with the Secretary General of the Arab League to hear their ideas and efforts for peace. Discussions will also focus on how the EU can contribute to a peace process and a two-state solution.
The ministers of the EU Member States will then discuss the situation in the Middle East among themselves.
As the International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to “immediately” suspend its military operations at Rafah, the EU Council is expected to return to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the need for appeasement, and to discuss the tools at its disposal. Stressing that even the United States was finding it difficult to have an impact on Israeli decisions, a European source explained that the EU continued to believe that it was “important to send messages, to engage in dialogue with the region, to commit to the political solution”. “Perhaps that’s why we’re concentrating our efforts on the day after”, the source added. Europeans are divided on the possible measures that could be taken.
The High Representative could share his ideas on using the EUBAM Rafah mission to facilitate humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip after the war. A senior official explained that the EU had received requests from various parties, including Israel, to study the possibility of reopening the mission. On Monday, the High Representative could ask the Member States for a mandate to present operational options that would enable the mission to be deployed. Discussions are at a very preliminary stage, say several sources.
According to a European source, the recognition of the State of Palestine by Ireland, Spain and Norway could be mentioned. Noting this recognition, the High Representative of the Union explained that he would work “tirelessly with all Member States to promote a common EU position based on a two-state solution”.
Current affairs. The EU Council will return to the situation in Venezuela ahead of the July elections. The EU has been invited to observe the elections and, according to a senior European official, the High Representative of the Union has not yet decided whether or not an observation mission will be sent.
The situation in Georgia will also be discussed. A European source pointed out that, in addition to the controversial law on the transparency of foreign influence, the country was experiencing increasing repression. “This distances Georgia from the EU”, the source warned. The ministers could discuss the response to events and measures to be taken to encourage Georgians to return to the European perspective. The subject could be discussed in greater depth at the June European Council meeting, according to another source.
The EU Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on EU security and defence, the first since 2021, which should take stock of the progress made since the adoption of the ‘Strategic Compass’ in March 2022.
Syria. The EU Council will be followed by the eighth conference on Syria, entitled ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ at the premises of the Council of the European Union in Brussels.
While all eyes are on the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, the aim of the conference is to continue to mobilise the international community around the plight of the Syrians, who have been plunged into a devastating civil war for 13 years.
The ministerial meeting will be attended by representatives of EU Member States, Syria’s neighbours and third countries, as well as representatives of the United Nations and international organisations.
The aim of the ministerial conference is to express the support of the EU and the international community for “a comprehensive political solution negotiated through the United Nations and enjoying the full support of all its members”, stated the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in a press release. New pledges of financial support for the Syrian population and host communities are expected to be made.
Mr Borrell will co-chair the conference on behalf of the European Union with the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi, and the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič.
On Tuesday 30 April, a day of dialogue with Syrian civil society was organised at the European Parliament (see EUROPE 13402/15) as part of the same annual conference.
Since 2011, more than €33 billion has been mobilised by the EU and its member countries in response to the Syrian crisis. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Bernard Denuit)