Foreign Affairs Council, 17/07/2017, 17 July 2017

Main results

Libya

"We discussed the political situation in Libya. We need unity of purpose, under the United Nations umbrella, to encourage the Libyan to unite themselves. The Libyans have enough resources to find their way out of the crisis. What we need is to help them, combining all efforts in support of the new UNSG Special Representative as he is about to take office"

Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The Council discussed Libya and adopted conclusions. It also extended the mandate of EUBAM Libya and introduced restrictions on the export of dinghies and outboard motors to Libya.

• Main results of the Foreign Affairs Council on Libya

Migration 

 Foreign ministers discussed migration, focusing on the situation in the Central Mediterranean Route, together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and the Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration William Lacy Swing. 

• Joint doorstep by Federica Mogherini, Filippo Grandi and William Lacy Swing

North Korea  

"There is no military solution in the Korean peninsula: denuclearisation must be achieved through peaceful means. We stressed the leading role that the Republic of Korea has in this regard: solutions to tensions in the peninsula lie in the peninsula itself. The EU is ready to support these efforts in all possible ways. We must find a path out of a crisis that threatens not only the non-proliferation regime but also security in Asia and worldwide." 

Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The Council discussed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and adopted conclusions. 

• Council Conclusions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (press release 17/7/17)

EU Global Strategy 

The Council had a discussion on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy. Foreign ministers provided guidance on the priorities for 2017-2018, agreeing that these should include both a follow-up to the strands of work of the first year and new initiatives. 

Building on the significant  work achieved in the first year, ministers agreed that the EU should continue strengthening its cooperation in security and defence, including through the future establishment of an ambitious and inclusive permanent structured cooperation (PESCO).  Ministers also noted the importance of the work on the internal / external nexus, migration, counter-terrorism, as well as on countering hybrid threats. EU progress in support of resilience of partner countries, in particular in the neighbourhood, and its integrated approach were also highlighted, as well as strategic communications and public diplomacy. 

Foreign ministers also agreed on two additional tracks for further work in 2017-2018: 

• supporting global governance, in particular the United Nations, including the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the reinvigoration of the global effort on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; and further enhancement of cyber security
• supporting regional organisations and cooperative relationships across regions and with the EU, including strengthening the EU's political engagement in the Western Balkans, deepening relationships with partners to the East through the Eastern Partnership, and reinforcing our partnership with Africa, in particular through the integrated approach in the Sahel and in the Horn of Africa. 

• EU Global Strategy on foreign and security policy (website)