Monday, 12 December 2022 EPP Foreign Affairs Ministers, co-chaired by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, Simon COVENEY TD and EPP Vice-President and Chairman of the European Parliament’s AFET Committee, David McALLISTER MEP met this morning to prepare TODAY’S Foreign Affairs Council agenda. They welcomed Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias BILLSTRÖM and Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and EPP Vice President Antonio TAJANI into the group. European Commission Vice-President Margaritis SCHINAS reported on the current European challenges and work of the Commission. Ministers discussed the Russian war against Ukraine and underlined the vital support needed for Ukraine to get through the winter. They also reassessed the military situation there, and highlighted the need for accountability of war crimes, coordination on reconstruction and possible new sanctions against Russia. On Iran, the ministers discussed the intolerable repression of protests and disregard of human rights, the unacceptable use of death penalty against those arbitrarily detained in connection with the protests, Iran’s support of Russia and new possibilities of restrictive measures. Among other topics on the agenda were the preparation of the EU-Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers meeting including the need for the EU´s special solidarity and support to increase Moldova’s resilience, improve its energy and other security aspects. Ministers also emphasized the strategic priority of the EU´s relations with the Southern Neighbourhood ahead of the December European Council discussion.


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For more information contact:

 

Alexandra Henman

Deputy Spokesperson

+32 471 90 76 84

alh@epp.eu

 

Angelos Athanasopoulos

National and Regional Press Director

+32 471 90 76 35

aa@epp.eu