Minister Ivan Kondov attended the ordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council
16 December 2024 News
Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov presented the country at the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, which took place in Brussels. This was the first meeting chaired by the new High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.
The foreign ministers discussed a number of key issues related to EU security and foreign policy.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who traditionally participates via videoconference, briefed ministers on the latest developments in the conflict. In the discussion that followed, measures to strengthen EU military support to Ukraine were discussed, including the provision of €6.6 billion in assistance under the European Peace Facility. The EU is also planning to provide in April 2025 a second tranche of the loan from extraordinary revenues from frozen Russian assets and to increase support for the Ukrainian defence industry.
The Council adopts new restrictive measures against Russia, including proposals for a 15th package of sanctions and a new regime to combat Russia's hybrid and destabilising actions. Minister Ivan Kondov stressed the importance of unity in the EU's actions and noted that Bulgaria supports the deepening of cooperation and defence support for the Ukrainian armed forces.
The discussions focused on the developments in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime — an event which Minister Kondov described as historic after 13 years of violence and civil war. He called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, a political transition involving all components of Syrian society and an active role of the EU in this process.
High Representative Kaja Kallas briefed ministers on the EU—Israel Association Council scheduled for February 2025, as well as on the first High-Level Dialogue with the Palestinian Authority scheduled for March 2025.
The ministers discussed the crisis in Georgia triggered by the decision of the Georgian authorities to suspend the country's EU membership application. Minister Kondov strongly condemned the violence against protesting citizens and stressed that the decision of the Georgian authorities to suspend the EU accession process does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Georgian people. ‘The EU should remain united in its position and call for dialogue and Georgia’s return to the integration process’, Ivan Kondov added.
In the framework of the Foreign Affairs Council, Minister Ivan Kondov held bilateral meetings with the High Representative Kaja Kallas and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Alexandra Papadopoulou.
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