The EU Foreign Affairs Council to hold extraordinary meeting

Press release 175/2014
14 August 2014

The EU Foreign Affairs Council convenes in an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on 15 August. Finland’s representative in the meeting will be Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto. The topics of the Foreign Affairs Council will be Iraq, the Middle East, Libya, and the situation in Ukraine. The meeting will address particularly the humanitarian situation and the need for assistance in these regions.

As regards Iraq, the meeting will highlight the recent changes in the country’s domestic policy and security situation, the increasing violence practiced by the ISIS organisation in particular. The discussion on the situation in the Middle East will focus specifically on the Gaza issue. Regarding Libya, the recent developments in the country’s security situation will be discussed. In relation to Ukraine, the issues to be addressed include the efforts to reach a solution through negotiations, and the EU action in the matter.

Additional information: Johanna Sumuvuori, Special Adviser to the Minister for International Development, tel. 040 505 9289; and Johanna Birkstedt, Deputy to the European Correspondent, tel. 0295 351 533