Foreign Affairs Council, 22 February 2021

Summary:

A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) was held on 22 February 2021. The agenda included the following items:

• Discussion on the bilateral relations between Russia and the European Union (EU);
• Exchange of views with the new US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on the substantive agenda for EU-US cooperation;
• Briefing on the latest developments in Hong Kong, followed by the agreement on a set of short and longer-term actions;
• Briefing on the latest developments in Myanmar, followed by the adoption of conclusions on this matter;
• Discussion on the situation in Iran and latest development in the nuclear field;
• Briefing on the latest developments in Belarus;
• Adoption of conclusions on a human-rights-based post-COVID-19 recovery;
• Adoption of conclusions on the EU priorities in UN human rights fora in 2021.

Official

General Secretariat of the Council: Background Brief for Foreign Affairs Council, 22 February 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/48551/background-brief-en.pdf

General Secretariat of the Council: Outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council, 22 February 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/48576/st06295-en21.pdf

EU EEAS: Foreign Affairs Council: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell upon arrival (22 February 2021) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/93572/

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, 22/02/2021: Foreign Minister Liimets at the Foreign Affairs Council: EU showed unity in agreeing on sanctions on Russia https://vm.ee/en/news/foreign-minister-liimets-foreign-affairs-council-eu-showed-unity-agreeing-sanctions-russia

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: EU – Jean-Yves Le Drian attending Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels, 22 February 2021) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/europe/news/article/eu-jean-yves-le-drian-attending-foreign-affairs-council-brussels-22-feb-2021

EU EEAS: Foreign Affairs Council: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell (22 February 2021) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/93618/

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News

RFE/RL, 21/02/2021: Austria Expects 'Broad Support' For New Russia Sanctions In Response To Navalny's Jailing https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-foreign-ministers-navalny-new-sanctions-schallenberg/31114032.html

Cyprus Mail, 21/02/2021: FM off to Brussels for the EU Foreign Affairs Council https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/02/21/fm-off-to-brussels-for-the-eu-foreign-affairs-council/

Politico, 22/02/2021: EU foreign ministers push new Russia sanctions https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-foreign-ministers-push-new-russia-sanctions/

VOA News, 22/02/2021: EU Mulls Sanctions on Myanmar, Russia https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/eu-mulls-sanctions-myanmar-russia

EurActiv, 22/02/2021: EU ministers set to sanction Russia, speak with Blinken https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-ministers-set-to-sanction-russia-speak-online-with-blinken/

The Guardian, 22/02/2021: EU to sanction Russians responsible for Alexei Navalny's detention https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/22/eu-must-be-united-and-determined-on-russia-sanctions-says-josep-borrell-alexi-navalny

Bloomberg, 22/02/2021: EU Paves Way for Sanctions Against Myanmar Coup Instigators https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-22/eu-paves-way-for-sanctions-against-myanmar-coup-instigators

ERR News, 23/02/2021: Minister: EU unity on Russia sanctions a good thing, needs to continue https://news.err.ee/1608119914/minister-eu-unity-on-russia-sanctions-a-good-thing-needs-to-continue

Reuters, 23/02/2021: Western countries step up pressure on Myanmar junta as protesters defy warnings https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL4N2KT0AG

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Commentary and Analysis

Deutsche Welle: Interview, 19/02/2021: Lithuanian president: EU needs 'clear strategy for relations with Russia' https://p.dw.com/p/3parh

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