Syria, South Caucasus and Serbia and Kosovo on the Foreign Affairs Council agenda

Press release 37/2012
24 February 2012

The second session of the Foreign Affairs Council in 2012 will convene in Brussels on Monday 27 February. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will represent Finland in the session. The Council will discuss Syria, the Middle East Peace Process, South Caucasus, Egypt and Serbia and Kosovo.

Prior to the Foreign Affairs Council, the Government of Tunisia has invited the Friends of Syria to an informal meeting in Tunis on Friday 24 February. All EU Member States, for example, intend to take part in the meeting, most of them at ministerial level. Foreign Minister Tuomioja will represent Finland. Because of the situation in Syria, the Foreign Affairs Council will reinforce restrictive measures against the Syrian regime.

The discussion on the situation in Serbia and Kosovo will lay a foundation for decisions to be taken in the General Affairs Council and the European Council concerning Serbia’s possible EU candidate status. The Council will also discuss the steps taken and results attained in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and review Serbia’s progress in meeting the criteria set in December.

The discussion on the South Caucasus will focus on the further development of the EU’s relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and the need of reforms in these countries. The prolonged conflicts in the region will also be dealt with.

The Foreign Affairs Council will also discuss the Middle East Peace Process and Egypt. The impacts of a Palestinian unity government, to be possibly formed soon, on the Middle East Peace Process will be debated. The discussion on Egypt will focus on the post-election situation and the EU’s messages on the future developments.

Further information: Tarja Fernandez, European Correspondent, tel. +358 40 590 9855, Tarja Kantola, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 590 4119