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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius will attend the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 October in Luxembourg, and Foreign Vice-Minister Rolandas Kriščiūnas will take part in the General Affairs Council on 21 October.

The Foreign Affairs Council’s agenda will include Ebola virus, Libya, the situation in Iraq, Syria, threats posed by the Islamic State (ISIL) group, the Middle East peace process, the situation in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. The Council will be presided by the outgoing EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton for the last time.

The Council will focus on joined-up strategies to counter the spread of Ebola. The Ministers will discuss a possible contribution by the EU Member States, coordination of activities to fight the virus and the question of evacuation of humanitarian workers.

The Ministers will discuss Libya’s complex security and political situation, and increasing flows of migrants, foreign fighters and weapons across the country that pose a threat to the security of the European Union. The Ministers will look at the EU’s possible contribution to the resolution of the conflict.

The Ministers will also discuss EU‘s contribution to international community‘s efforts in stopping the threats in Iraq and Syria, as well as in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Council will discuss the tools in tackling terrorism, and will evaluate humanitarian situation and its impact on global security.

C.Ashton will inform the Ministers about the situation in the Middle East. The Council will discuss the situation in Gaza, including prospects for a durable cease-fire, humanitarian aid and Gaza reconstruction, the prospects for resuming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and will look at the EU’s possible more active contribution to the stabilisation of the situation.

The Council will also take stock of the political, economic, security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, the implementation of the Association Agreement, the postponement of the implementation of the chapter on free trade (DCFTA), sanctions against Russia. Key topics for discussion include the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Ukraine (to the Verkhovna Rada) on 26 October, aid to Ukraine, the truce and its failure in the eastern regions.

The General Affairs Council will prepare the European Council meeting on 23-24 October. The Ministers will discuss the Draft Council Conclusions, which include the new climate and energy policy framework for 2030, the economic situation in the EU and external relations issues.

The Council will continue to debate the implementation of the EU’s strategic agenda that was agreed at the June European Council, focusing on freedom, security and justice. The Ministers will also seek the compromise regarding the decrease of the number of the members of new composition of the Committee of the Regions following Croatia’s accession to the EU. The Council will also hold a discussion on the legislative programming for the new institutional cycle.

The Ministers will also be briefed about the UK’s notification of its intention from 1 December to opt out of all pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures.  

Photo: The Council of the European Union.