MFA: Foreign Minister Soini to the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg

MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
http://formin.finland.fi/english

Press release 222/2015
9 October 2015

Foreign Minister Soini to the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg

The EU Foreign Ministers will convene at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 12 October. Finland's representative in the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini.

The agenda highlights are the external aspects of the migration policy and the latest developments in Syria. In addition, the ministers will discuss the future of the Cotonou Agreement between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

The Foreign Affairs Council will examine the external actions to manage the migratory pressures, and especially the outcome of the Eastern Mediterranean - Western Balkans route conference on 8 October, and the preparations of the Valletta Summit on Migration, organised jointly by the EU and African countries in November, as well as the EU's relations with Turkey and other countries of origin and transit.

The Council will take stock of recent political and humanitarian developments in Syria and consider ways to enhance the EU's support to the conflict resolution efforts of the UN. The efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis have been stepped up during this autumn but at present, attaining a solution seems difficult.

The Cotonou Agreement is a comprehensive partnership agreement between the European Union and its member states and the sub-Saharan African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, focusing on development cooperation, political dialogue and trade. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will lead the opening discussion in the FAC, ahead of the public consultation on the future of the Cotonou Agreement after 2020.

Inquiries: Kaisa Honka-Hallila, Diplomatic Adviser to Minister Soini, tel. +358 295 351 780 and Sari Rautio, European Correspondent, tel. +358 295 351 534.