Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On January 27, 2025, EU Foreign Affairs ministers met in Brussels to discuss international challenges.
Foreign Affairs Ministers of EU member states met today to discuss current affairs, from the situation in Syria to the ceasefire in Gaza and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined them via video conference for an informal exchange of views.
The talking points of the meeting, chaired by Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, also included relations with the new US administration and dealing with hybrid threats.
There were a lot of issues today, but we were quite effective,
said Kallas.
A new path forward for Syria?
Syria’s future is fragile but hopeful,
said Kallas.
For this reason, the EU is going to proceed with a step-by-step plan to ease the sanctions as the country continues to move towards stability. Following Kallas’ lead, some ministries have also pointed out that it is important that these steps are taken cautiously and while keeping an eye on minorities in the country.
It is very important that the new government of Syria is working in an inclusive way, including all the communities that make up society in the county, and that includes Christians, but also Kurds,
commented Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
The EU intends to help stabilize Syria after the fall of Assad. Its political decision is to start lifting those sanctions that set back the early buildup of the country, but nothing related to arms and arm dealing will change anytime soon. Concerns over radicalization remain, explained Kallas, so the Union is also ready to step back if Syria stops progressing towards stability.
“A more permanent peace” for Palestine and Israel
“I think that both Palestinians and Israelis deserve peace, that’s why we really need to move from the ceasefire to a more permanent peace. Europe is supporting a two-states solution, we’re of course supporting Israel’s security, but also the rights of Palestinians,”
said Kallas at the doorsteps before the meeting.
Since October 7, 2023, EU member states together have provided 1 billion euros to Palestine as humanitarian aid focusing on food, health, water, sanitation, hygiene and shelter. The EU will now redeploy the civilian mission to Rafah to supervise border checks, to allow injured individuals to leave and to support the ceasefire.
More support to Ukraine
Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, joined the meeting via video conference and explained that his country needs more support in terms of ammunition, air defence and trained soldiers.
The Council therefore agreed on extending sanctions on Russia to “continue depriving Putin of revenues to fun his war,” announced Kallas. This also means more military support to Ukraine.
Because of the attacks of “dictator Putin,” Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, told the press before the meeting, the European Union has a responsibility to do more.
Ukrainians are ready to fight, they are just expecting us to support them on a military level, but also economically, and to invest in their defence industry.
Kallas said that it is clear that Ukraine needs more, and the EU is going to increase its support.
The next steps on Russia and the US
The EU is ready to fight the threats coming from Russia by supporting Moldova’s purchase and transportation of gas, and by increasing zone security to face hybrid threats, particularly in light of the recent damages to undersea installations in the Baltic Sea.
The Council also discussed the relationship with the new US leadership, and positive cooperation is expected despite the different style of the new administration, which seems to prefer a transactional approach. If so, the EU says it’s ready to negotiate and use its strength at the discussion table.
High Representative Kallas has also extended the invitation to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to join the Foreign Affairs Council and to explain the U.S. perspective. She is also willing to visit Washington as soon as possible.
Our adversaries are cooperating very closely, so should we. Europe and North America are stronger and safer together.
