Kristian Vigenin called for a long-term strategy for the Eastern Partnership
16 December 2013 News
At today’s meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin called for preservation of the Eastern Partnership principles and for sending a clear signal regarding the Ukraine’s expected development by the European Union. He also endorsed a long-term strategy for Ukraine and for the other Eastern Partnership countries. Vigenin expressed full support for the Republic of Moldova and Georgia on their way to EU membership and the earliest possible signing of the Association agreements with them, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. A dialogue with Russia on the Eastern Partnership should be conducted, he added. The participants in today's Council discussed the follow-up to the Eastern Partnership summit held in Vilnius in November, including on the recent events in Ukraine.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs discussed the situation in Syria and in Lebanon. As regards Syria, the emphasis was put on the EU's contribution to the forthcoming Geneva II peace conference, the need to improve the humanitarian access to Syria and the EU's efforts to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for destroying Syrian stocks. The situation in Lebanon was discussed in the light of the Syrian crisis. Lebanon bears the heaviest burden of the consequences of the conflict, as already a quarter of the country’s population are Syrian refugees. In this context, the need to increase the support for Lebanon was emphasized.
Ministers addressed also the Middle East peace process and, as it was announced today, a detailed discussion on it is due in January.
The Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions on Lebanon, the Middle East peace process, Iran's nuclear program, the situation in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar.
Within the framework of the Foreign Affairs Council, ministers had a working lunch with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the EU-Russia Summit in January in Brussels was discussed, as well as Russia's relations with the Eastern Partnership countries and issues related to the strategic partnership with Russia.
During the afternoon session, a review of the enlargement process and the Stabilisation and Association of the Western Balkan countries was made.
Tomorrow the General Affairs Council, with the participation of Minister Kristian Vigenin, is to adopt conclusions on enlargement.