Foreign Affairs Council meeting
20 July 2023 News
Deputy Foreign Minister Tihomir Stoychev represents Bulgaria at today's ordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. EU foreign ministers discussed the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the foreign policy dimension of economic security, relations with Turkey, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the situation in the Middle East and the results of the EU-LAC summit. Special guests at the Council were US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
The discussion on the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine focused on: strong support for Ukraine on all fronts — humanitarian, financial, economic, military, diplomatic, etc., as well as future EU security commitments; President Zelensky's ‘Peace Formula’ and encouraging international support for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine; restrictive measures against Russia; holding Russia accountable for international crimes committed in Ukraine. The Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed the strong support for Ukraine and informed his EU colleagues about the main results of President Zelensky's visit to Bulgaria, during which important agreements were reached in the fields of defence and energy, including in the nuclear area. He stressed upon the humanitarian aid provided by our country to the Ukrainian refugees.
The Council discussed the state of play and prospects for the development of EU-Turkey relations by fostering a positive dynamic on the basis of the 2021 European Council conclusions. Deputy Minister Stoychev stressed that relations with Ankara are strategically important for the EU, with opportunities for deeper cooperation in areas such as migration, energy, trade, investment and security, while respecting the basic principles of international law.
The Council was joined by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken via videoconference, with whom the EU foreign ministers discussed topical issues on the international agenda. There was a shared vision to strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and the US in all areas, as well as to work together to promote the international rule of law. The strong support for Ukraine against Russian aggression in all directions was confirmed. Secretary of State Blinken briefed his European counterparts on the results of his recent visit to Beijing. In his statement, the Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized on the importance of the strong strategic partnership between the EU and the US and the united support for Ukraine. He welcomes the US Comprehensive Strategy for the Black Sea and the commitment of US partners to promote security, connectivity and prosperity in the region, to which Bulgaria also contributes. He stressed on close cooperation with the US to strengthen the stability and sustainability of the Western Balkans. He also highlighted cooperation in the fight against hybrid threats and disinformation.
Existing risks to the EU's economic security and opportunities to ensure diversification and sustainability of supply chains were discussed. The ambition of the EU to play a leading role in global digitalisation on the basis of universal values and international standards through enhanced international cooperation was highlighted.