In response to the recent events in Kyiv, the EU's Foreign Ministers adopted conclusions on the situation in Ukraine. The EU's Foreign Ministers voiced concerns over the adoption of laws by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 16 January, which breached fundamental human rights and restricted the activities of civil society. According to the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, the EU's Foreign Affairs Council today called on all political forces to seek to resolve the crisis in Ukraine only through democratic means and to refrain from using force:
"Ukraine must review the adopted laws that have a limiting effect on freedom of expression and association. It is possible to solve the political crisis only via negotiations, not through limitations or force. Kyiv has more EU flags than any EU capital. The people must have a right to express their wishes for different future granted to them. Today the EU has once again reaffirmed its commitment to sign the association and free trade agreement as soon as Ukraine is ready and fulfils all requirements," Minister Linkevičius said.
A letter of L.Linkevičius, which calls for increased support for Georgia and Moldova for a smooth signing of the association and free trade agreements with the EU, was circulated at the Council. The letter is addressed to the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, the European Commissioner for Trade Karel de Gucht, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle.
The Council discussed the situation in Syria, particularly the preparations for the Geneva II Peace Conference, which is to be held on 22 January and to become an important step towards finding a political solution to the situation in Syria, as well as the impact of the Syrian crisis on the Middle East region. The Council adopted conclusions condemning Syria's human rights abuses and stressed the need to address the humanitarian crisis also through confidence-building measures. The EU called on the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Syria. At the donors' conference in Kuwait on 15 January, the EU and its Member States collected EUR 550 million in pledges for humanitarian aid to the solution to Syria's humanitarian crisis.
Following the constitutional referendum of 14 and 15 January in Egypt, the EU's Foreign Ministers took stock of the situation. Egypt's new constitution is an important step towards preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections. The EU intends to continue to cooperate with Egypt in various fields, to support efforts to hold democratic elections involving all groups of society, and plans to send observers to the elections.
The Council debated political and security issues as well as the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic. The Ministers discussed how the EU with its capacity could contribute to the stabilisation of the situation in CAR and support the efforts of the African Union and France. Lithuania spoke in favour of a targeted operation of the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) in CAR.
The EU Ministers exchanged views about the EU's long-term engagement in Afghanistan and adopted conclusions on Afghanistan, expressing a strong commitment to continue to work with Afghanistan during the transition period, developing and strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring human rights, the rule of law, and sustainable economic growth.
During the meeting, the Ministers also discussed the Middle East peace process and the EU's support for the U.S. Secretary of State's mission to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton briefed the Council on the E3/EU+3 talks on Iran's nuclear programme.
The Council adopted conclusions on Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, Yemen and Tunisia.
