European Union - Jean-Yves Le Drian’s participation in the Foreign Affairs Council (Luxembourg, 12 October 2020)

Share

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will take part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on October 12.

The ministers will discuss the following issues:

  • Relations between the EU and Russia: While the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has just confirmed that a nerve agent was used to poison opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, the Council will discuss a common approach, adopted on the initiative of France and Germany, that should lead to the adoption of European sanctions against those responsible, as well as the importance of maintaining a firm and demanding dialogue with Russia.
  • Nagorno-Karabakh: The ministers will take stock of the situation regarding the ongoing crisis. France, which co-chairs the Minsk Group together with Russia and the United Sates, will present the work carried out in this respect on the political track.
  • Belarus: The ministers will discuss the restrictive measures adopted by the EU on October 2 against 40 individuals. France will again express its full support for the establishment of an inclusive national political dialogue. It will reaffirm its support for the mediation efforts proposed by the OSCE presidency and for the measures implemented by the EU, notably in support of civil society, reflecting the EU’s continued commitment to Belarus.
  • Pristina-Belgrade dialogue: In the presence of EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, who is facilitating this dialogue, France will reaffirm that the EU, the leading donor, trading partner and investor in the two countries, is taking a long-term approach in order to reach a comprehensive and definitive agreement that will help pave the way toward their European prospects.

The ministers will also exchange views on several topical issues, especially the situations in Venezuela, Mozambique and Kyrgyzstan. They will also discuss the EU action plan on human rights and democracy 2020-2024. Lastly, they will discuss ways in which the EU can support the multilateral system and a rules-based international order. France will argue in favor of an ambitious approach and will have the opportunity, together with Germany, to report on progress with respect to our initiatives within the framework of the Alliance for Multilateralism.