EU Foreign Ministers discuss Western Balkans, Iran, and the situation in North Africa and the Middle East

Press release 324/2011
30 November 2011

The EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Brussels on 1 December. Finland’s representative in the meeting will be Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The main topics of the meeting will be Western Balkans, Iran, the Southern neighbourhood and the Middle East Peace Process, as well as Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, which will also be discussed over the joint dinner of Foreign and Defence Ministers on 30 November.

The Foreign Affairs Council debate about Western Balkans, in particular Serbia and Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will lay foundations for the discussion on the enlargement process to be held in the General Affairs Council on 5 December.

As regards Iran, the discussion will continue in accordance with the November meeting and the conclusions adopted therein on the next EU steps concerning the Iranian nuclear programme in the light of the latest IAEA report. The attack on the British Embassy in Teheran will also be taken up in the discussion. Furthermore, the Council will address the situation of the Camp Ashraf refugee camp located in Iraq.

The Council will also discuss the current development in the Southern neighbourhood of the Union, in Syria, Egypt and Yemen in particular. The intention is take stock of the measures the EU has launched over the year in response to the endeavours for democracy in Arab countries. Last week, Foreign Minister Tuomioja visited Egypt, Tunisia and Libya and in the meeting he will brief his colleagues about his trip.

In relation to the Middle East peace process, the worrying situation of Gaza will be addressed, among other things.

Further information: European correspondent Tarja Fernández, tel. +358 40 590 9855, and Veikko Kiljunen, Diplomatic Adviser to Foreign Minister Tuomioja, tel. +358 40 351 9526