EU - Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 22 January 2024

 22/01/2024 21:55 | MEETING |

Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 22 January 2024

 

The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, and was informed about current

Foreign Affairs Council, 22 January 2024

Main results

Russian war of aggression against Ukraine

The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a VTC intervention by Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, who briefed his EU counterparts on the latest developments on the ground.

Despite continuous attacks from Russia, Ukraine is achieving important military successes, notably in the Black Sea. Nevertheless, Russia has escalated missile and drone attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine and remains a threat to Europe.

The Council discussion therefore focused on the need to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, including military support.

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Ministers agreed that this is not the moment to weaken our support to Ukraine. On the contrary: it is the moment to do more and faster. With financial resources, military equipment, by training soldiers, and [providing] all that Ukraine needs to defend itself.

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Ministers discussed ways of helping Ukraine by providing more and predictable assistance, ahead of the special meeting of the European Council scheduled for 1 February. The High Representative expressed his hope that the EU would be able to reach an agreement on a top-up of five billion euros of the European Peace Facility, and the establishment of a ‘Ukraine Assistance Fund’ to address Ukraine’s most pressing needs.

On the immobilised Russian assets, I think I can say that we have a political agreement to finalise work on the basis of the proposal that we tabled in December, focusing on revenues, or windfall profits.

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Situation in the Middle East

The Foreign Affairs Council held a discussion on the situation in the Middle East and held separate exchanges on this topic with: the Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia - Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordan - Ayman Safadi, and Egypt – Sameh Shoukry, and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as well as the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian Authority Riyad al-Maliki.

During the first discussion with minister Katz, EU ministers agreed that the catastrophic situation in Gaza - the rising death toll among civilians, wide-spread hunger, a serious lack of humanitarian deliveries and access, and Israeli hostages held for over 100 days – is the absolute and most imminent priority.

More death, destruction and hardship for the Palestinian people will not help defeat Hamas and its ideology. It will not bring more security to Israel, on the contrary. That is why we need to double our efforts with international partners to move from deadly confrontation towards a solution.

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

After that, EU ministers had a lunch discussion with regional partners in the Peace Day Effort – Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and the League of Arab States.

They agreed on the need to support UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), and talked about post-war Gaza, joint efforts to revive the political process towards a two-state solution and work towards a Preparatory Peace Conference and a comprehensive regional peace plan.

Thirdly, EU ministers also had a discussion with Palestinian Foreign Minister al-Maliki, to whom they reiterated the EU’s strong support for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian Authority.

Lastly, the High Representative shared with EU member states ideas for an EU internal discussion on a comprehensive approach to re-initiate the peace process in the Middle East, building on the work done in the context of the “Peace Day Effort”. The High Representative proposed in particular to work towards a Preparatory Peace Conference, to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a comprehensive manner, in the future.

Other aspects that ministers discussed were: ongoing work on sanctions against extremist and violent settlers in the West Bank, ongoing tensions at the Israel-Lebanon border and in the Red Sea and the recent spiral of violence that has caused numerous civilian casualties across the wider region and in South Asia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia

Under current affairs, the Foreign Affairs Council touched on Azerbaijan/Armenia. The Council expressed solidarity with France over the expulsion of its diplomats and recent media attacks. Ministers agreed that Azerbaijan needs to return to substantive peace and normalisation talks with Armenia.

Any violation of Armenia’s territorial integrity is unacceptable and will have severe consequences on relations with the EU.

Council conclusions

The Council approved conclusions on EU priorities in UN Human Rights Fora in 2024.

United Nations Human Rights Fora: Council approves EU priorities (press release, 22 January 2024)

Meeting information

Meeting n°4001 Brussels 22 January 2024 09:00

Preparatory documents

List of A items, non-legislative activities

List of A items, legislative deliberations

Provisional list of A items

Provisional agenda

Background brief

Outcome documents

List of participants

Press releases

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Sudan: Council adds six entities to EU sanctions list

22 January 2024, 12:30

United Nations Human Rights Fora: Council approves EU priorities

22 January 2024, 12:20

Media advisory - Foreign Affairs Council of 22 January 2024

19 January 2024, 18:05