Foreign Affairs Council, 15 November 2021

Summary:

A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) was held on 15 November 2021. The agenda included the following items:

• Discussion on the situation in Belarus and the movement of migrants along the EU border;
• Discussion on ways to strengthen the EU's engagement with the Western Balkans beyond enlargement;
• Discussion on the latest developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue;
• Exchange of views on the situation in the Sahel region;
• Discussion on a number of current affairs matters, including Turkey's unilateral moves to change Varosha's status quo, the conflict in Ethiopia and the situation in Sudan;
• Adoption of conclusions on:
  • 6th Review Conference of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons;
  • 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
• Exchange of views on the first draft of the EU Strategic Compass, following presentation by the High-Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Official

Finnish Government: Press Release, 12/11/2021: Foreign Minister Haavisto to the EU Foreign Affairs Council and meeting of foreign ministers on the Eastern Partnership in Brussels https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/foreign-minister-haavisto-to-the-eu-foreign-affairs-council-and-meeting-of-foreign-ministers-on-the-eastern-partnership-in-brussels

General Secretariat of the Council: Background Brief for Council meeting - Foreign Affairs Council, 15 November 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/52951/background-brief-fac-meetings-15-16112021_en_v2.pdf

General Secretariat of the Council: Outcome of the Council meeting - Foreign Affairs Council, 15 November 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/53062/st13934-en21_v3.pdf

German Federal Government: Article, 15/11/2021: Foreign Minister Maas at the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers: Talks focusing on the situation at the border with Belarus https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/europe/maas-fac/2495850

Greek Government: Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias to participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and host a working breakfast with Foreign Ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) (15 November 2021) https://www.mfa.gr/en/current-affairs/statements-speeches/minister-of-foreign-affairs-nikos-dendias-to-participate-in-the-eu-foreign-affairs-council-fac-and-host-working-breakfast-with-foreign-ministers-of-the-south-east-european-cooperation-process-seecp-brussels-15112021.html

EU EEAS: Blog, 18/11/2021: Time to move forward with the Strategic Compass https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/107464/

Swedish Government: Article, 18/11/2021: Strategic Compass on the agenda at the EU Foreign Affairs Council https://www.government.se/articles/2021/11/strategic-compass-on-the-agenda-at-the-eu-foreign-affairs-council/

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News

Swissinfo.ch, 10/11/2021: 'Europe is in danger': top diplomat proposes EU military doctrine https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/-europe-is-in-danger---top-diplomat-proposes-eu-military-doctrine/47099270

Reuters: Factbox, 16/11/2021: 'Strategic Compass': EU sets dates for new military force https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/strategic-compass-eu-sets-dates-new-military-force-2021-11-16/

Politico, 16/11/2021: EU arms itself against Russia, China with age-old tactic: A policy document https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-policy-document-against-russia-china/

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Commentary and Analysis

EurActiv, 10/11/2021: LEAK: What the EU’s future military strategy could look like https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/leak-how-the-eus-future-military-strategy-could-look-like/

Project Syndicate: Commentary, 12/11/2021: A Strategic Compass for Europe https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/eu-strategic-compass-by-josep-borrell-2021-11

Deutsche Welle, 16/11/2021: EU security strategy gets an overhaul — but will it really be an upgrade? https://p.dw.com/p/434X6

Sophie Wilmes (Belgian Foreign Minister): Press Release, 16/11/2021: The EU Strategic Compass is taking shape: "We must take control of our European security and defence". https://www.sophiewilmes.be/en/the-eu-strategic-compass-is-taking-shape-we-must-take-control-of-our-european-security-and-defence/

Middle East Institute: Publications, 18/11/2021: The EU’s Strategic Compass: Preparing to navigate MENA “with less US” https://www.mei.edu/publications/eus-strategic-compass-preparing-navigate-mena-less-us

Euro|topics, November 2021: Strategic Compass: a blueprint for the EU? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/271942/

Euronews: View, 23/11/2021: EU's draft defence strategy points to evolution, not revolution https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/23/eu-s-draft-defence-strategy-points-to-evolution-not-revolution-view

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