Foreign Affairs Council, 23 January 2023

Summary:

A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) was held on 23 January 2023. The agenda included the following items:

• Exchange of views on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including matters such as bilateral relations, military support, Ukraine's initiative for a just peace and options for an accountability mechanism;
• Informal exchange with Palestine's Prime Minister on the state of play of bilateral relations;
• Exchange of views on Sahel and the coastal countries of West Africa;
• Discussion on current affairs matters:
  • Condemnation of protest repression and executions taking place in Iran;
  • Establishment of civilian mission in Armenia (EUMA);
  • Discussion on the latest developments in Afghanistan;
  • Briefing on the Dialogue on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia;
  • Exchange of views on Venezuela, Montenegro and Ethiopia.

Official

General Secretariat of the Council: Background Brief for Council meeting - Foreign Affairs Council, 23 January 2023 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/61505/background-note-fac-23-jan_en.pdf

EU EEAS: Foreign Affairs Council: Remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival (23 January 2023) https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/foreign-affairs-council-remarks-high-representative-josep-borrell-upon-arrival-2_en

EU EEAS: Foreign Affairs Council: Remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell at the press conference (23 January 2023) https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/foreign-affairs-council-remarks-high-representative-josep-borrell-press-conference-3_en

French Government: News, 23/01/2023: Catherine Colonna participating in the EU Foreign Affairs Council https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/europe/news/article/catherine-colonna-participating-in-the-eu-foreign-affairs-council-23-01-23

Luxembourgish Government: Press Release, 24/01/2023: Jean Asselborn at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels https://gouvernement.lu/en/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2023/01-janvier/24-asselborn-conseil-affaires-etrangeres-bruxelles.html

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News

France24, 22/01/2023: Iran vows 'reciprocal' response to EU over Guards terror label vote https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230122-iran-vows-reciprocal-response-to-eu-over-guards-terror-label-vote

Reuters, 23/01/2023: EU approves more military aid to Ukraine, Germany faces pressure on tanks https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-foreign-policy-chief-hopes-bloc-agrees-next-tranche-military-aid-ukraine-2023-01-23/

Politico, 23/01/2023: Baltic countries urge more support for Ukraine ahead of EU foreign ministers’ summit https://www.politico.eu/article/baltic-countries-lithuania-gabrielius-landsbergis-urge-support-ukraine-eu-foreign-ministers-summit/

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