On Monday 14 April, the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers will meet in Luxembourg, once again with a busy but fairly routine agenda.
Ukraine. After listening to their Ukrainian counterpart, who will provide an update on the situation on the ground, the Ministers will discuss the military support to be provided to Ukraine, in particular the High Representative’s initiative to supply two million large-calibre munitions, worth €5 billion. Between them, the Netherlands and Germany are expected to supply almost 900,000 shells.
According to a European diplomat, High Representative of the Union Kaja Kallas is expected on Monday to “confirm the level of commitment of the Member States”. “The target of delivering two million rounds of ammunition worth around €5 billion should be met this year”, added the source.
The discussion will follow the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which met in Brussels on Friday 11 April. On her arrival at the meeting, High Representative of the Union Kaja Kallas announced that the Member States had already pledged more than €23 billion in military support for Ukraine this year, compared with €20 billion for the whole of 2024. According to the British Defence Secretary, John Healey, the participants pledged more than €21 billion in aid to Ukraine at the meeting.
The European Ministers will then discuss the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. The Commission could propose this new package “very, very soon”, according to a European source. The fight against the circumvention of sanctions, including by China, should be addressed. New measures relating to Russia’s hybrid activities could be adopted next month.
Middle East. The Council will then turn its attention to the situation in the Middle East, following the High Representative’s visit to Egypt, Israel and Palestine. The Ministers are expected to review the appointment of the new government in Syria (see EUROPE 13612/22), the lifting of certain European sanctions agreed in February (see EUROPE 13586/5) and the situation in the country.
The Ministers will also discuss the Middle East, including the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza following the breakdown of the ceasefire, and the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza.
At the end of the Council, the Ministers will take part in the first-ever EU/Palestine high-level dialogue in the presence of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. This meeting is the counterpart to the EU/Israel Association Council held in February (see EUROPE 13586/4). The dialogue will focus in particular on developments in the West Bank, where attacks by violent settlers and incursions by the Israeli army are continuing. While some Member States are in favour of additional sanctions against violent settlers, others want them to be balanced by new sanctions against Hamas.
The situation in Gaza and the future role of the Palestinian Authority in the enclave should also be discussed, as should Israeli-Palestinian relations and the prospects for progress towards a two-State solution.
Bilateral relations will also be discussed. The aim will be to look again at the Palestinian Authority’s reform programme and how the EU can support it. According to a European source, the European Commission could announce new support for the Palestinian Authority. This could amount to €1.6 billion by 2027. Last July (see EUROPE 13457/1), the Commission announced that it would propose a multiannual aid programme at a later date.
Africa. The Ministers will discuss relations between the EU and Africa ahead of the EU-African Union Ministerial Council scheduled for 21 May, which will provide an opportunity to address a positive agenda with Africa and possible areas of cooperation. Although this was initially a discussion to prepare for the ministerial meeting in May, regional crises have now been added to the agenda. Particular emphasis should be placed on the humanitarian situation in Sudan, on the eve of the London meeting and in the context of the 3rd anniversary of the conflict (see other news). The conflict in the DRC should also be mentioned.
Western Balkans. The European Ministers have also scheduled a working dinner on the evening of Sunday 13 April, prior to the meeting, with their counterparts from the six countries of the Western Balkans.
This dinner, as well as the discussion planned on this subject at the Council, should be an opportunity for the Member States to take stock of the state of the EU’s relations with the region.
There have been several upsurges in tension in recent months, particularly in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the condemnation of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik (see EUROPE 13618/4), and the civil demonstrations that have shaken Serbia (see EUROPE 13578/20).
Monday’s discussion is expected to focus on how the EU can do more to help the countries of the Western Balkans on the road to accession, with an emphasis on the situation in Belgrade and Sarajevo. Several countries believe that the leaders of the Bosnian Serb Republic have gone too far in adopting legal acts that are contrary to the Bosnian constitution. The question of sanctions against members of Republika Sprska could be raised, but Hungary has publicly opposed this.
But the main focus of the discussions should be on the countries’ alignment with the Union’s common foreign and security policy and the loyalty of the Western Balkans to the European orientation, according to a senior European official. Dialogue should help to establish a climate of trust and move things forward on issues such as Ukraine and the United States.
As for enlargement, while an Intergovernmental Conference (ICG) is scheduled for the same evening with Albania to open the second cluster of negotiating chapters (see other news), it will not be the focus of discussions between member countries, which should be fairly brief overall.
Other topics. The Ministers will briefly return to developments in the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 14 March, the two countries announced the finalisation of their negotiations on the draft peace agreement (see EUROPE 13600/10). The situation in Georgia should also be discussed.
Finally, the EU Council will adopt sanctions against nine individuals and entities linked to Iran’s hostage diplomacy. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant, Isalia Stieffatre, with Solenn Paulic)