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The Council discussed EU relations with the Western Balkans after an informal breakfast with foreign affairs ministers from the six Western Balkans partners.
The Council held a broad discussion on current issues, including key geopolitical developments, a shared interest in promoting stability and security in the region and cooperation on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) matters.
Ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit on 5 June 2026, ministers agreed that the EU will continue its engagement with the region, taking concrete steps to deepen the cooperation on foreign affairs, security and defence matters. This means encouraging alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, pursuing security and defence partnerships beyond those already concluded with Albania and North Macedonia, and providing further support against hybrid threats, including on countering disinformation.
EU foreign affairs ministers discussed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, after an informal exchange of views with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, AndriiSybiha,who attended in person.
The focus of the discussion was on EU support for Ukraine and touched on several aspects: financial, military and energy support and EU security guarantees - including strengthening the EU Satellite Centre to support ceasefire monitoring and to counter the circumvention of sanctions. Ministers also talked about support for the return of Ukrainian children ahead of the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children taking place on the same day and reaffirmed the geostrategic importance of Ukraine’s accession path.
Getting Ukraine into the EU is not charity, it's an investment into our own security. And our message to Putin is clear. Ukraine's European future is more important to us than destruction of Ukraine is to Russia.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council
Concerning pressure on Russia, the Council adopted restrictive measures against a further 16 individuals and seven entities responsible for the systematic unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and within temporarily occupied territories.
Ministers agreed to keep working towards more restrictive measures capable of cutting off Russia’s revenue streams, and discussed the issue of peace negotiations, which will be debated further at the upcoming informal meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers in Cyprus.
Lastly, the Council adopted a strengthened mandate for the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform in Ukraine (EUAM)
Over lunch, ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East in light of the latest developments in the region.
Iran
The Council discussed the state of play of hostilities in the Gulf Region and discussed strengthening the EU’s engagement with the Gulf countries against the background of the regional escalation.
EU ministers agreed on the importance of deepening relations through security, defence, and diplomatic channels. Ministers also supported the idea of working on reinforcing EU restrictive measures to guarantee freedom of navigation and discussed thepossibility of strengthening Operation ASPIDES.
The Council held an exchange of views on Israel and Palestine. Ministers expressed their deep concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the stalled implementation of thepeace plan under UNSCR 2803, recalling the importance of maintaining international attention on and engagement with the plan, and stressed the need to ensure access for humanitarian aid. Ministers emphasised the importance of contributing to Gaza’s speedy recovery and of supporting the Palestinian Authority’s reform efforts.
The deteriorating situation in the West Bank and the recent measures adopted by the Israeli government were also addressed. In particular, considering the growing violence and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Following on from the March European Council conclusions and discussions at the April Foreign Affairs Council, the High Representative announced that ministers had reached a political agreement to move forward with targeted sanctions vis-à-vis extremist settlers and entities supporting settlements in the West Bank. At the same time, ministers agreed to take further restrictive measures against leading Hamas figures. The Council also discussed further policy options, including trade-related measures concerning the import of products from the settlements.
We move from the political deadlock that was there for a long time. Violence and extremism carry consequences.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council
Ministers also touched upon the dire humanitarian situation in Lebanon, in light of the continued hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. They called on both sides to uphold the ceasefire of 16 April and reiterated the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.
Informal discussion with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada
Ministers were joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Anita Anand for an informal discussion on bilateral relations and cooperation on international issues of mutual interest, ahead of the meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
EU foreign affairs ministers were briefed on the outcomes of the updated comprehensive EU Threat Analysis.
Any other business and other decisions
Under any other business, ministers heard from:
Romania, on the recent violation of Romanian airspace by Russian drones and on the high-level event on the Vertical Gas Corridor held in the margins of the European Political Community
Croatia, on the Three Seas Summit and Business Forum held in Dubrovnik
Italy and Croatia, on the MED9++ informal ministerial meeting held in Rome on 7 May 2026, which had launched a Coalition for global access to fertilisers and food security amid the Hormuz crisis
The Council adopted two decisions authorising the signing of the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement andthe Interim Trade Agreement.
In the context of the EU’s commitment to re-engaging with Syria, the Council adopted a decision lifting the partial suspension of the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement, introduced in 2011.
The Council decided to prolong EU restrictive measuresagainst actors involved in cyber-attacks against the EU and its member states for a year, until 18 May 2027.
The Council approved the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine.
In the margins of the meeting
At the end of the May FAC meeting, High Representative Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos on behalf of the EU, together with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand, co-hosted the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
High Representative Kaja Kallas subsequently co-chaired the first EU-Syria high-level political dialogue, together with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian transitional government, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. The dialogue was an opportunity to make progress on the EU’s re-engagement with Syria and to take stock of the work strands that could support the country’s transition.
This is an important signal in normalisation of the EU-Syria relations […] The EU moved fast to support the political transition and reconstruction after the Assad regime fell.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council
