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The Foreign Affairs Council was informed about the recent visits that the High Representative paid to the Western Balkans, the Middle East region - notably Jordan and Iran - and the United States.
In this context ministers had an opportunity to discuss the Middle East Process, including the recent US proposals, the role of the EU and how best to relaunch a political process that is acceptable to both parties, building on internationally agreed parameters, equal rights and international law.
The Council then touched on the unfolding crisis in North West Syria, where the military offensive by the Syrian regime and its allies results in a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, and risks undermining the wider regional stability.
Finally ministers referred to Venezuela, and to the Sahel.
We are going to launch a new operation in the Mediterranean and we agreed that this operation will have as a goal the implementation of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council. The operation will comprise aerial, satellite and maritime assets.
Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The Council was debriefed about the outcome of the recent follow up meeting on the Berlin process in the margins of the Munich Security Conference, and had an exchange of views on Libya.
In this context, ministers reached a political agreement on the launch of a new operation in the Mediterranean, aimed at implementing the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council. Secondary tasks may include fighting the organised crime responsible for migration, and training the Libyan coast guard and navy.
The new operation will comprise aerial, satellite and maritime assets and its area of operations will be defined in accordance with the agreed mandate.
Ministers agreed that the potential impact on migration flows would be monitored carefully and could, in some cases, lead to the withdrawal of maritime assets from the relevant area.
The Council discussed EU-African Union relations, with a view to providing political orientations on future strategic priorities with Africa, and to coordinating outreach to African partners ahead of important forthcoming meetings.
These include the meeting of AU-EU ministers of Foreign Affairs and the upcoming 6th EU-African Union Summit to be held in Brussels in October 2020.
The European Commission is due to present a joint communication “Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa” on 4 March 2020.
During an informal lunch, foreign affairs ministers and the minister of External Affairs of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, had a discussion ahead of the 15th EU-India Summit that is expected to take place on 13 March in Brussels.
The main focus of the exchange was on multilateralism and upholding the rules based global order, climate change and environmental protection, foreign policy issues and regional security, as well as, trade and investment, sustainable modernisation and connectivity.
We are going to launch a new operation in the Mediterranean and we agreed that this operation will have as a goal the implementation of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council. The operation will comprise aerial, satellite and maritime assets.
