Video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 14 August 2020

Summary:

EU Ministers responsible for matters relating to foreign affairs held a videoconference on 14 August 2020. The agenda included the following items:

• Discussion on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean;
• Discussion on the Presidential elections held in Belarus and their aftermath;
• Briefing on the situation in Lebanon following a devastating explosion in Beirut port;
• Update on the latest developments in Venezuela;
• Update on the latest developments in Bolivia.

Official

EU EEAS: Video conference of Foreign Affairs Ministers: Main outcomes (14 August 2020) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/84103/

German Council Presidency: News, 14/08/2020: Extraordinary meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Council: The following issues were on the agenda https://www.eu2020.de/eu2020-en/aktuelles/article/extraordinary-foreign-affairs-council-/2375064

Estonia: Foreign Affairs Ministry: News, 14/08/2020: Foreign Minister Reinsalu to EU Foreign Ministers: The European Union must take concrete steps on the issue of Belarus https://vm.ee/en/news/foreign-minister-reinsalu-eu-foreign-ministers-european-union-must-take-concrete-steps-issue

Spain: Foreign Affairs Ministry: Press Release, 14/08/2020: Informal video-conference of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/SalaDePrensa/NotasdePrensa/Paginas/2020_NOTAS_P/20200814_NOTA128.aspx

Romania: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Press Release, 14/08/2020: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu Attends the Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of EU Member States https://www.mae.ro/en/node/53399

S&D Group: Newsroom, 14/08/2020: Stolen election in Belarus: S&Ds urge EU foreign ministers to impose targeted sanctions, expel Belarus from Eastern Partnership Programme and call for new elections https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/stolen-election-belarus-sds-urge-eu-foreign-ministers-impose-targeted-sanctions-expel

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News

Deutsche Welle, 14/08/2020: EU foreign ministers greenlight new Belarus sanctions https://p.dw.com/p/3gwhc

Euronews, 14/08/2020: Hungary urges EU to pursue dialogue with Belarus amid violent protests https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/13/hungary-urges-eu-to-pursue-dialogue-with-belarus-amid-violent-protests

Kathimerini, 14/08/2020: During EU teleconference, Greece and Germany disagree on Turkey stance https://www.ekathimerini.com/255905/article/ekathimerini/news/during-eu-teleconference-greece-and-germany-disagree-on-turkey-stance

EurActiv, 14/08/2020: EU approves Belarus sanctions, debates Turkey crisis https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-approves-belarus-sanctions-debates-turkey-crisis/

ERR News, 14/08/2020: Foreign minister calls for concrete EU measures on Belarus https://news.err.ee/1123954/foreign-minister-calls-for-concrete-eu-measures-on-belarus

EUObserver, 14/08/2020: Belarus torture hastens calls for EU sanctions https://euobserver.com/foreign/149146

Politico, 14/08/2020: EU takes first step toward Belarus sanctions https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-belarus-sanctions-first-steps/

The Guardian, 14/08/2020: EU moves toward Belarus sanctions after crackdown on protests https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/14/eu-considers-sanctions-after-crackdown-on-protests-in-belarus

TRT World, 15/08/2020: EU urges Turkey, Greece to engage in dialogue over Eastern Mediterranean https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/eu-urges-turkey-greece-to-engage-in-dialogue-over-eastern-mediterranean-38912

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Commentary and Analysis

Spiegel Online International, 13/08/2020: Europe's Foreign Policy Disappearing Act https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/dangerous-navel-gazing-europe-s-foreign-policy-disappearing-act-a-436ad72a-f50f-4b49-acf9-d3e9c70ec826

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Europe Centre: Commentary, 14/08/2020: Belarus Protests Expose Europe’s Flawed Foreign Policy https://carnegieeurope.eu/2020/08/14/belarus-protests-expose-europe-s-flawed-foreign-policy-pub-82483

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