EU foreign ministers discuss the situation in Russia, vaccines against COVID 19 and climate diplomacy
25 January 2021 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva is taking part in the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels today. The ministers discussed a wide range of topics: the situation in Russia since the arrest of Alexei Navalny, the provision of vaccines for the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership, relations with the United States, Turkey and Japan, and climate diplomacy.
All member states have condemned the actions of Russian authorities, who have arrested thousands of peaceful protesters in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. EU countries have again called on Moscow to release Navalny and the other detained citizens. "The arrest of Alexei Navalny upon his arrival in Russia is proof of the alarming trend of serious restrictions on civil society and human rights in this country", Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said in a statement.
With regard to vaccines against COVID-19, High Representative Josep Borrell and EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Warhey called on Member States to help the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries with vaccines.
EU ministers have strongly called on the EC to continue talks with vaccine manufacturers in order to urgently secure the agreed quantities for Member States. Bulgaria was the first country to declare its readiness to support the countries of the Western Balkans with vaccines, and subsequently Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva together with 12 other EU colleagues called on the European Commission to give vaccines to the Eastern Partnership countries as a priority. In this way, the citizens of the European Union will not be harmed either, as there is a sufficient delay in the vaccination campaign due to the reduction in supplies.
EU foreign ministers held a video conference with Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi. "Bulgaria highly values Japan as a strategic partner with whom we share common values and interests, and we want to develop joint cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region", Minister Zaharieva said in her speech. The two countries are implementing joint projects in the countries of the Western Balkans.
Ministers welcomed the inauguration of President Joe Biden and the promising first steps towards a renewed US commitment to international cooperation and the combat against global challenges, such as climate change, COVID-19, etc. They reaffirmed their desire for enhanced transatlantic cooperation on the basis of the Council’s Conclusions of December 2020.
Josep Borrell informed about his meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, held on January 21, 2021, which, according to the High Representative, took place in an extremely positive atmosphere. EU foreign ministers welcomed Turkey's constructive messages, which should be backed by concrete steps to permanently reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and pave the way for a positive agenda in EU-Turkey relations.
Following the European Commission's proposal for a European Green Deal and the adoption of the December 2020 European Council Conclusions reaffirming the EU's leadership in the combat against climate change, the Foreign Affairs Council sent a strong message to other countries to step up their commitments with regard to this global challenge. Ministers launched a long-term strategic discussion on the impact of climate change and the energy transition, on global stability and security.
Cooperation with Britain in the field of foreign policy and security was also discussed.
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