EU Foreign Ministers to discuss Syria, the Middle East peace process, and the Common Security and Defence Policy

Press Release 123/2013
24 May 2013

The EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Brussels on 27 May. The items on the meeting agenda are the EU Southern Neighbourhood, the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, the Middle East peace process and Mali. Finland’s representative in the meeting will be Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.

As regards the EU Southern Neighbourhood, the main topic of discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council will be the current situation of Syria. The Ministers will discuss particularly the situation of the Syrian opposition and the steps the EU could take to alleviate the situation in Syria. In addition, the topical situations in Egypt and Libya will probably be discussed.
The Foreign Affairs Council discussion on the Middle East peace process will focus on the topical situation assessment of how the EU could best support progress of the peace process. In addition, the Ministers will discuss the status of the implementation of former EU conclusions concerning the Middle East peace process.

Yet another topic on the agenda will be Mali: the current situation in the country; the progress of the country’s reconstruction plan and national dialogue; the results of the donor conference; and the status of the EU military training operation.

Over Foreign Affairs Council lunch, the subject of EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy will be discussed. This discussion between Foreign Ministers is part of the preparation process for the December 2013 European Council discussion on security and defence policy.

Additional information: Tarja Fernández, European Correspondent, tel. +358 40 590 9855; and Päivi Harju-Heikkilä, Press Attaché to Foreign Minister Tuomioja, tel. +358 40 749 2687