EU foreign ministers to discuss Syria, Sahel and Belarus
Press release 64/2012
22 March 2012
EU foreign ministers will convene for the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 23 March in Brussels. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will represent Finland in the meeting, where the ministers will discuss the situations of Syria, the Sahel and Belarus. On the night before the Council meeting, 22 March, the foreign ministers will meet their counterparts from EU candidate countries over dinner. The topics of discussion will be Afghanistan, Pakistan and the EU’s southern neighbourhood.
The Council will discuss the situation in Syria, with particular focus on access of humanitarian assistance into the country and diplomatic efforts for achievement of a UN Security Council resolution. The Council is expected to adopt a decision expanding the scope of EU sanctions. The situation of the Syrian opposition will also be addressed.
With regard to Belarus, the discussion will concentrate on the latest developments in the country, giving reason for alarm. The Council is expected to pass a decision on expanding the sanctions imposed due to the situation in Belarus.
One year after the adoption of the EU strategy for security and development in the Sahel, the Council will take stock of progress in its implementation in the light of the latest challenges in the region. The Council will adopt a crisis management concept for a new civilian crisis management operation, launching a planning process, with an aim to support drafting of a security strategy and providing training for the security sector in Niger.
The Foreign Affairs Council meeting will end with a lunch, which will be attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The topics of discussion over lunch will be the situation of Syria, the Middle East peace process, Iran and Africa, Somalia in particular.
Further information: European correspondent Tarja Fernández, tel. +358 40 590 9855, and Katja Pehrman, Diplomatic Adviser to Foreign Minister Tuomioja, tel. +358 40 181 9257