Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union Foreign Ministers Council will meet in Brussels on Monday morning, chaired by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas. According to EU institutions, following a videoconference intervention by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha, the Council will discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The ministers are then expected to discuss the situation in the Middle East, followed by discussions on Syria and Iran. The Council will then discuss EU-US relations. Following the Council meeting, the EU will host the 9th Brussels Conference - "Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition," starting at 3:00 PM Brussels time.
The Foreign Affairs Council will begin with a discussion on the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha will join the meeting via videoconference to provide updates on the latest political developments and the situation on the ground, as well as Ukraine's most pressing priorities. Recent developments will be discussed, including US steps and initiatives from the European and US sides, as well as the recent meeting in Saudi Arabia and the special European Council on March 6. These discussions come in preparation for the European Council, which will be held on March 20-21, with the participation of EU leaders.
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas is expected to emphasize the importance of positioning Ukraine in a position of strength and ensuring continued military support, including through her initiative to strengthen EU military support in 2025. She is expected to emphasize the importance of providing security guarantees to Ukraine, including strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, and the importance of maintaining maximum pressure on Russia. This is particularly true since, on February 24, the Council adopted a broad package of restrictive measures against Russia, targeting vital sectors of the Russian economy and weakening the Moscow regime's ability to wage an illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine. In its December 2024 Conclusions, the Council affirmed the EU's unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, and military support to Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary and intensified as needed.
The European Council will reaffirm its support for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, in line with the core principles and objectives. To this end, the EU and its Member States will maintain their intensive global outreach efforts and participate in discussions affecting European security.
The Situation in the Middle East
The Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on the situation in the Middle East, starting with the situation in Gaza, where the ceasefire is at a critical juncture and ensuring the release of all hostages and the flow of humanitarian aid is of paramount importance.
The High Representative is expected to update the ministers on the ongoing work of the EU Crossing Point Monitoring Mission (EUBAM), which has already assisted the crossing of over 3,000 people from Gaza over the past six weeks.
He will also welcome the Arab Plan for Gaza and Reconstruction presented at the Cairo Summit on 4 March. The discussion is also expected to focus on the situation in the West Bank, where an Israeli military operation continues, and the European Union's support for the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution, as well as for UNRWA. Syria
The Council is expected to discuss the recent outbreak of widespread violence in the country, particularly in the coastal region, which has resulted in a large number of casualties, including many civilians, and to reaffirm the EU's support for the country and for a peaceful and comprehensive solution aimed at achieving political and economic stability, including the 9th Brussels Conference on Syria, which will take place the same afternoon. The ministers will reiterate the statement issued by Kaya Kallas on behalf of the EU on 11 March, in which the EU expressed concern about the widespread violence in the Syrian coastal region and strongly condemned the attacks by pro-Assad militias against security forces, as well as the horrific crimes allegedly committed by armed groups supporting the transitional security forces. The EU called for a prompt, transparent, and impartial investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and to end the violence throughout Syria. It urged all parties to protect Syrians of all religious and ethnic backgrounds without discrimination.
The ministers are also expected to exchange views on the EU's policy towards Iran. The discussion could focus on various issues, such as Iran's military support for Russia and the arbitrary detention of EU citizens. It is also expected to focus particularly on the impact of US foreign policy decisions and the EU's approach. Kaja Kallas will report on the results of her discussions during her participation in the G7 ministerial meeting on March 12-14.