Strong together: Maas and Borrell take stock after the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin - Hoofdinhoud
At Gymnich, the Informal Meeting of EU i Foreign Ministers on 27-28 August in Berlin, the focus is on relations with Turkey and Russia, as well as the situation in Belarus and the EU’s strategic response to COVID‑19.
Recent weeks have proven to be quite eventful - there have been extremely dynamic developments in a host of topics. It is not just that all states are still dealing with the COVID‑19 pandemic and the impact of the crisis. The situation in Libya, the eastern Mediterranean and in Belarus and Lebanon is also tense. There are many fronts in foreign policy where the European Union is called upon to take a stance and take action.
The so‑called Gymnich meetings - hosted every six months by EU High Representative Josep Borrell i and the foreign minister of the member state holding the Council Presidency, on this occasion German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas - provide an opportunity to talk about current crises and at the same time to discuss more fundamental foreign policy and security issues of strategic importance in an informal setting.
Belarus - the EU calls for a peaceful solution
The foreign ministers will continue last week’s dialogue and talk about what role the EU can play to maintain pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and help Belarus find a way out of the crisis through dialogue. Germany wants to garner EU support with a view towards promoting a peaceful national dialogue and/or a transition process in Belarus, as well as an OSCE mediation mission. As far as sanctions are concerned, the European External Action Service (EEAS) has circulated a proposed list to member states which will now be discussed.
For Foreign Minister Maas, it is clear:
With the daily rise in crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators, the leadership in Minsk is increasingly isolating itself from the international community. These courageous citizens have taken to their country’s streets to protest against election fraud and to defend their right anchored in law to freedom and democratic participation. They are demanding no more but also no less than an open dialogue with their own government. We will not fail to react to grave human rights violations or breaches of basic democratic principles.
Russia - a principled and more active EU policy
In preparation for discussions on EU relations with Russia, the EEAS has circulated a progress report on the implementation of the EU’s five guiding principles for relations with Russia, agreed upon in June 2016. On this basis, the foreign ministers will take stock of current relations and consider how to further develop EU‑Russia policy. Germany supports a principled, but also a more active policy on Russia, taking in open dialogue, but also upholding current sanctions, as long as the situation that triggered them does not change.
Turkey - dialogue vital
When it comes to Turkey, the ministers will talk about the whole spectrum of relations between the EU and Turkey. The informal nature of Gymnich meetings enables ministers to take a step back from day‑to‑day business and discuss issues like this from an overarching, strategic point of view. Given the current situation in the eastern Mediterranean, Foreign Minister Maas will of course also report back on his talks in Athens and Ankara.
A key element of EU‑Turkey relations is the dialogue process between EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Foreign Minister Maas wants to encourage EU member states to make a success of this dialogue. Particularly because relations with the EU are currently tense, constructive dialogue with Turkey is vital to find solutions to contentious issues in the eastern Mediterranean, but also for a peaceful political process in Libya.
Roundtable at the Gymnich meeting in Berlin
Gymnich-Treffen der EU-Außenministerinnen und -minister
Geopolitical impact of COVID‑19
How has the EU managed the initial phase of the COVID-19 crisis? What lessons are to be learnt and how is the EU’s strategic response shaping up? Josep Borrell and the EU foreign ministers also want to talk about this. For the Federal Government, it is clear that the EU needs to become more independent, resilient and able to act. Central here is the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the Strategic Compass with clear aims. Furthermore, relations to like‑minded states and multilateral organisations are to be strengthened. In this way, a strong EU can also hold its own on the global stage.
EU dialogue with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi
Before the Gymnich meeting officially begins, the German Presidency of the Council of the EU is hosting a working lunch for EU foreign ministers and the Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. Discussions will focus on the Middle East peace process, the situation in the region and relations between the EU and Israel, which are a key priority for Germany.
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