European Union – Foreign Affairs Council meeting of May 20 (21.05.25)

France took part in the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on May 20. This meeting focused on the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.

With regard to Ukraine, France welcomed the adoption of an ambitious sanctions package against Russia – the 17th – which must now be further strengthened, as that country is still refusing to negotiate a peace agreement. France is determined to continue current efforts to give Ukraine solid security guarantees.

France reiterated its strong condemnation of the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza and its blockade against humanitarian aid, which violates the principles of international law. France stressed its strong concern over Israel’s settlement policy and underscored the need for an agreement by Member States on sanctions against violent settlers and entities that promote settlement activity. It also called on the EU to take concrete measures, including the reexamination of the association agreement between the EU and Israel, and commended the High Representative’s announcement in this regard at the end of the meeting. France reaffirmed its commitment to the two-State solution and noted its efforts to ensure its implementation at the conference it will co-chair with Saudi Arabia this June in New York.

As for Syria, France supported the decision to lift economic sanctions against the country. This historic decision is the concrete expression of the commitments France made to the transition authorities with a view to supporting Syria’s economic recovery and transition process. France also emphasized that the easing of sanctions should go hand in hand with solid guarantees on transparency, the proper use of international funds and respect for our political conditions. The EU will have to continue ensuring that priority challenges are taken into account, especially the fight against terrorism. At France’s initiative, the EU member States also pledged to adopt sanctions against the perpetrators of human rights violations committed in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.