European Union - Jean-Yves Le Drian’s participation in the EU Foreign Affairs Council (7 December 2020)

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Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will take part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council on December 7 in Brussels.

  • United States: The meeting will mainly focus on the trans-Atlantic relationship in the run-up to the European Council from December 10 to 11, where it will be discussed. The minister will reaffirm the importance for the EU to propose to the United States a renewed and rebalanced partnership, with the goal of defending multilateralism and based on a positive and ambitious agenda, especially with respect to the fight against climate change, health cooperation and the promotion of human rights. It will call on the EU to commit to strengthened cooperation with the United States in the area of defense and security as well as with respect to regional crises of common interest. The debates will also focus on the strengthening of the EU’s strategic autonomy. In this context, the minister will stress the need to build on efforts to strengthen European sovereignty, which is key to a more effective trans-Atlantic partnership.
  • Turkey: Within the framework of preparations for the summit of European heads of state and government on December 10, the minister will reaffirm the need for the EU to draw the consequences of developments, notably in the Mediterranean region, since the European Council at the beginning of October.
  • Lebanon: The minister will report on the Conference in Support of the Lebanese People, which took place via video conference on December 2, at the joint invitation of President Macron and the UN secretary-general.
  • Venezuela: France will advocate for the EU to continue to work toward a peaceful and lasting solution in Venezuela, following the parliamentary elections that took place in the absence of transparency and in the context of the crackdown against the opposition.
  • Georgia: The situation in Georgia in the wake of the parliamentary elections will be discussed; the minister will back renewed EU support for this country.
  • Human rights: The ministers will reaffirm the EU’s wholehearted commitment to this issue. They will discuss the very worrying developments in Hong Kong over the last few days and will take stock of the implementation of the measures decided in July by the Council of the European Union.