Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu attends the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg tomorrow to discuss the effectiveness of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
"This meeting focuses on an essential issue: how do we make sure that the European Union conducts its foreign policy in a unified and effective way. A strong and clear voice of the European Union on foreign policy issues is an important guarantee of our security in the world. Estonia considers it important that all member states continue to be equally included in the shaping of the common foreign policy of the EU," the Foreign Minister said ahead of the meeting.
The foreign ministers and the defence ministers of the EU will assess the progress of the EU Global Strategy, launched in 2016, and discuss how, in the past three years, the European Union has made its voice stronger in the world and helped solve security crises. At the talks, the Foreign Minister plans to stress the necessity of close Euro-Atlantic cooperation for the security of Europe, and the importance of solidarity in the policy towards Russia. "Following the occupation of Crimea, the European Union has been one of the most important supporters of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Sanctions continue to be one of the most effective tools for responding to a gross violation of international law, and we must continue with this united stance until Russia takes specific steps to implement the Minsk agreements and de-escalate the situation," Reinsalu stressed.
"In this context, Estonia pays great attention to transatlantic unity and the enhancement of the cooperation of NATO and the EU," he added.
The agenda also includes the situation in Sudan, a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Jordan, and other topical issues. Today, the minister is attending a dinner for the foreign ministers of the Baltic States and Benelux countries.
Additional information:
Britta Tarvis
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 5194 7045
