IRIA News

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Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) member states met in Brussels to discuss pressing global issues, focusing on the ongoing crises in Ukraine, the Middle East issue, including the war in Gaza as well as the political crisis in Venezuela.

The meeting, the first after the summer break, was conducted in the “Gymnich” format, an informal setting where no decisions are made but where member states can exchange views and develop common strategies. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, however, it was relocated to Brussels due to escalating tensions between Hungary and the EU.

The friction arose after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s controversial visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit, which occurred on the fifth day of Hungary’s EU Council Presidency, sparked criticism from EU officials, who argued that Orban overstepped his authority and violated the bloc’s foreign policy stance.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who announced the move to Brussels, expressed concern that Orban’s actions were inconsistent with the EU’s united front against Russia, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it remains unclear whether Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto will attend the Brussels meeting, Borrell has extended invitations to the relevant ministers from all member states.

Ukraine war

The situation in Ukraine dominated the discussions, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba briefed EU ministers on the current state of affairs. As winter approaches, there is heightened concern over Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said that the EU foreign ministers agreed to fulfill their commitments to Ukraine in the field of air defense, adding that “We will continue supporting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.”

Josep Borrell also called for restrictions to be lifted on Ukraine’s use of donated weapons to hit targets in Russia. “The weaponry that we are providing to Ukraine has to have full use, and the restrictions have to be lifted for the Ukrainians to be able to target the places [from] where Russia is bombing them. Otherwise, the weaponry is useless,” Borrel said.

Another key topic was the ongoing international efforts to pressure Russia, including the potential use of revenues from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The ministers decided to provide funds to Ukraine directly from the Russian frozen assets which will be used by the Ukrainian government to finance their industries and enhance production capabilities.

The European Union foreign ministers also reviewed the outcomes of the peace conference held in Switzerland in June, seeking to build on the progress made there.

Sanctions on Israeli ministers

The Middle East, particularly the escalating conflict in Gaza, remained a focal point of the meeting. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called for the bloc to consider imposing sanctions on certain Israeli government ministers, who he claims have made “hateful” and “illegal” statements regarding the conflict. While Borrell has not named the ministers in question, he emphasized the need for the EU to use all available tools to enforce international humanitarian law.

United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag also briefed the EU ministers on the horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza and shared her assessment. Borrel highlighted that 86% of Gaza is now under evacuation order, the United Nations activities have been suspended, and the UN humanitarian workers were shot at as they were moving towards an Israeli army checkpoint.

Borrell said in his social media post that the EU Ministers expressed their support for ongoing ceasefire negotiations for Gaza, adding that “We are strongly concerned because the war scenario in Gaza is now compounded by heavy military activity in the West Bank.”

The discussions also covered ongoing negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, efforts toward a cease-fire in Gaza, and the broader implications of the conflict on regional stability, particularly in Lebanon. Additionally, the ministers discussed the EU’s recent commitment of $445 million to support the Palestinian Authority’s economic restructuring and financial sustainability.

“The violence spreading in the West Bank shows the will of not ending the war. The current terrible situation bears the seeds not only for generalized war between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but also a conflict inside the Israeli society, and also making the whole Middle East on the edge of a precipice,” Borrell said.

Turkiye’s foreign minister attends first EU meeting in 5 years

EU Foreign Ministers also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan over lunch and discussed the EU-Türkiye relations and regional and global issues of shared interest. This was the first time in five years that the Turkish foreign minister attended the meeting hoping to make progress on improving Turkiye’s ties with the European Union.

EU foreign policy chief Borrell said, “We reviewed all the geopolitical situation in our neighborhood and beyond, and in particular the issues that make our relationship difficult, with some problems related to the situation in Cyprus and the situation in the Middle East, but in particular the situation in Cyprus which has been referred to by many Member States.”

The EU and Turkiye officials also discussed visa issues and ways to modernize the EU-Turkey Customs Union. Turkish Foreign Ministry saw the EU’s invitation to Hakan Fidan as a significant effort to seek dialogue and noted deeper ties between both sides “with the understanding that Turkey is a candidate country” would be beneficial for Turkiye and the EU.

Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan met with George Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, in Brussels on the margins of the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. 🇹🇷🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/8V2UPwblar

— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) August 29, 2024

While in Brussels, Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece George Gerapetritis on the margins of the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. The Greek foreign minister highlighted that the importance of Türkiye’s attendance and said, “Resuming negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue with the U.N.’s initiative is very important for us.”

Borrell expressed hope that the meeting with the Turkish foreign minister will be the first step to re-take a process of dialogue to look for a solution to all problems, particularly regarding the Cyprus issue.

Venezuela issue

The situation in Venezuela was another critical issue on the agenda. The EU foreign ministers reviewed the aftermath of the highly contested elections held on July 28, which saw President Nicolas Maduro re-elected for a third term with 51.2% of the vote.

The European Union has voiced concerns over the transparency of the electoral process, with Borrell stating that the bloc will not recognize the results unless the election records are transparently verified.

The ministers discussed potential EU actions in response to the election, which would further deepen the political and economic crisis in Venezuela. The EU has consistently called for restraint and transparency in the country, urging Maduro’s government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the opposition.

On Venezuela, we heard directly from Presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

Ministers agreed that we must defend the democratic process and, upon my proposal, not to recognise the announced electoral results and the democratic legitimacy of Maduro. 4/4

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 30, 2024

The meeting in Brussels represents a crucial opportunity for the EU to align its member states on key foreign policy issues and to strategize collective responses to the global challenges at hand. While no formal decisions were made, the discussions set the tone for future EU policies, particularly regarding Ukraine, the Middle East, and Venezuela. The outcome of these talks will likely shape the EU’s foreign policy agenda in the coming months as it navigates a complex and increasingly volatile international landscape.