Press releases, 24.2.2009

Foreign Minister Stubb: Development of the Eastern Partnership in the EU’s common interest

Press release 58/2009
23 February, 2009

Foreign ministers Alexander Stubb and Bernard Kouchner in Brussels on Monday 23 February. Photo: Council of the European Union “The EU Member States gave their staunch support for development of the Eastern Partnership,” Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said at the EU meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on 23 February. In addition to the Eastern Partnership, Afghanistan and the Western Balkans were on the agenda at the External Relations session of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.

Development of the Eastern Partnership with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine is in the common interest of the entire EU, Stubb said. In his own comments, the foreign minister also stressed that development of relations between the EU and partner countries should be based on each country’s own progress.

With regard to Afghanistan, the Union is committed to the country’s stabilisation. Stubb stated that the EU needs a strategy that is stronger than ever. The EU has made Afghanistan the leading project in trans-Atlantic relations. The debate also gave consideration to regional factors, such as the situation in Pakistan. Furthermore, the ministers discussed EUPOL, the European police mission. Finland has decided to send 15 police officers to serve in EUPOL.

Discussion of the Western Balkans concentrated on the general situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia. As concerns Montenegro, the discussion focused on the country’s application for EU membership. “The EU must honour its promises with regard to enlargement and the related procedures,” Stubb stressed. During the debate on the Western Balkans, the foreign ministers also discussed the appointment of a Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Representative’s role.

Additional information: Counsellor Markku Lampinen, Unit for European Common Foreign and Security Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 5530, mobile tel. +358 40 726 6124, and Mikko Hautala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 40 834 6758