Challenges in the Southern Neighborhood, regional dynamics and the situation in Gaza at the focus of the second- day discussions at the Gymnich meeting
30 August 2014 News
The situation in the Southern Neighborhood is of strategic importance for EU’s security, foreign ministers of the 28 member states said at the informal Gymnich meeting in Milan. The main focus of today’s discussions was on the situation in Iraq, Syria and Libya.
EU top diplomats agreed on the need for coordinated action on European level in order to address the crisis in the region. Ministers shared the view that for coping with the foreign fighters issue there is need of intra-European measures, including combating radicalization, supporting state-building in Iraq, cooperating and respecting the efforts of regional partners, mainly Turkey, Jordan and Egypt, Iran in the longer term. The current Syrian regime can not be treated as a regional partner in the fight against terrorism. There is a strong need of legitimate Syrian government.
Minister Daniel Mitov briefed his counterparts on Bulgaria's cooperation in support of Iraq's fight against ISIL. He emphasized on the increased risk of a refugee flow due to the situation in Iraq. “All possible resources and instruments of the individual EU countries as well as at the European level should be mobilized urgently. EU should demonstrate its support, work in close cooperation and back Turkey's efforts to address this problem,” he said. In order to overcome the tensions between different communities in Iraq and cope with the challenges of forming a new government, it is necessary to seek assistance, including from the EU, for a more constructive role of Iran and Saudi Arabia, said Minister Mitov.
Assessment of the prospects for the MEPP and the immediate efforts to demilitarize and rehabilitate Gaza was part of the Gymnich closing session.