Foreign Affairs Council, 08/04/2019, 8 April 2019

Main results

Current affairs

The High Representative and foreign ministers had an exchange of views on the most pressing issues on the international agenda. In particular, they expressed their concern over developments in Libya. They urged all parties to implement immediately a humanitarian truce, refrain from any further military escalation and return to the negotiations. They reiterated their full support for the efforts of the UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé in working towards peace and stability in Libya. 

Foreign ministers also referred to the implementation of the penal code order in Brunei-Darussalam and expressed their strong opposition to cruel and degrading punishments, prohibited by the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which was signed by Brunei-Darussalam in 2015. 

In relation to the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, the Council reiterated the EU's strong opposition to the extraterritorial application of unilateral restrictive measures, which it considers contrary to international law.

Afghanistan

Ministers discussed the situation in Afghanistan. They focused on current peace efforts and how the EU can best contribute to these efforts. The High Representative debriefed ministers on her visits to Islamabad on 25 March and Kabul on 26 March.

I hope that the intra-Afghan talks announced for next week can lead to peace, without prejudging either the electoral process or the achievements of recent years, in particular on the rights of women and minorities, and human rights in general terms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The Council adopted conclusions on the Afghanistan's peace process.

• Council conclusions on the Afghanistan's peace process (08/04/2019)

Eastern Partnership

Ministers discussed the Eastern Partnership (EaP) in view of the EaP ministerial meeting (13 May) and the high-level event (14 May) which will mark the 10th anniversary of the partnership. Ministers highlighted the importance of the partnership, which is based on shared values and principles, and an approach combining inclusivity and differentiation.

Ministers welcomed the progress achieved with Eastern Partnership countries within the "20 deliverable for 2020" framework, and in particular the tangible and concrete results in trade, people-to-people contact, visa liberalisation, transport, connectivity, infrastructure and economic reform. They agreed that implementation of reforms in sectors such as governance, anticorruption and the judiciary require additional efforts.

• Eastern Partnership (background information)

Venezuela

Foreign ministers exchanged views on Venezuela. They discussed the outcome of the second meeting of the International Contact Group on 28 March in Quito (Ecuador). They agreed to step up work on the two tracks of the ICG: facilitating humanitarian access, and creating the conditions for free, fair, transparent presidential elections.

Ministers noted the improvements in recent days on humanitarian access. They agreed on the need to intensify the work to start a political process towards a democratic and peaceful transition.

• Venezuela: the Council's response to the crisis (background information)