Foreign Affairs Council, 15/10/2018, 15 October 2018

Main results

Current affairs

Foreign ministers discussed the most pressing issues on the international agenda; among them the case of the missing Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, where the EU expects full and transparent investigation by the Saudi authorities in full cooperation with the Turkish authorities.

They also highlighted a number of decisions adopted by the Council, in particular the adoption of a new regime of restrictive measures to address the use and proliferation of chemical weapons.

• Chemical weapons: the Council adopts a new sanctions regime

Ahead of the ASEM Summit, the High Representative also drew attention to the conclusions on "Connecting Europe and Asia – Building blocks for an EU strategy".

• Conclusions Europe and Asia: Council adopts conclusions
• Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), 18-19/10/2018

Libya

The Council discussed Libya. The discussion focused on the political process, the stability of the country, and the economic situation. Foreign ministers reiterated the EU's support for the political process under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative Ghassan Salamé. They reiterated the EU's unity in its determination to support a Libyan-found solution for the Libyan people, under the UN auspices.  The discussions were part of the preparations for  the upcoming high-level meeting on Libya which will take place in Palermo (Italy) on 12-13 November 2018. The Council underlined the importance of holding both presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible, and the need to put in place a proper constitutional and legal framework before the elections take place.

• EU-Libya relations, factsheet

External aspects of migration

The Council discussed the external aspects of migration together with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. Ministers were also briefed by the Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration António Vitorino. They took stock of progress and recent developments, and underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between the EU, the IOM and the UNHCR in Libya.

We decided to build on the good results we have already achieved; strengthen our cooperation with the UN and other partners, in particular the African Union and countries of origins and transit; and provide additional finance for our EU Trust Fund for projects along the migratory routes. We will also focus on new ways of tackling the shift in migration from the Central Mediterranean to other routes. Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

• EU migration policy (background information)

Venezuela

Over lunch, the High Representative and foreign ministers discussed the situation in Venezuela and its impact in the region, including on migration. Ministers reaffirmed the EU's strong position on the political crisis in Venezuela. Since the crisis can only be addressed through a political process, they agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a contact group which could, if conditions are met, help facilitate such a process.

• Delegation of the European Union to Venezuela

Central African Republic

The Council discussed and adopted conclusions on the Central African Republic (CAR).

• Council conclusions on the Central African Republic
• EUTM RCA