MFA: Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto to attend meeting of EU foreign ministers

The foreign ministers will have an exchange of views on the current situation in Ethiopia and on the alternative courses of actions available for the EU, which are based on three pillars: the humanitarian situation; human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law; and the political track. In his capacity as an Envoy of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell in the region, Minister Haavisto visited Ethiopia and its neighbouring region on 22 February and 19 April 2021.

The Foreign Affairs Council will also have a discussion on the EU’s Strategic Compass. The Council is expected to give political guidance on determining the direction of the EU’s security and defence cooperation, that is, the so-called Strategic Compass, which covers crisis management, resilience, capability development and partnerships.

The Foreign Affairs Council will also discuss the external dimension of new digital technologies. This is the first time that the foreign ministers debate the topic. There is a growing need for integrated and coordinated EU foreign policy on this matter, which affects all policy sectors from information networks, industry and trade to security and defence policy.

The Foreign Affairs Council will approve the conclusions on a Globally Connected Europe. In recent years, connectivity has become one of the key themes of discussion in international policy. Globally Connected Europe focuses especially on assessing and anticipating the political effects of transport, energy and digital networks and connections between people in terms of education, research, innovation, culture and tourism, and, on the other hand, on strengthening positive trends.

The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss also other topical matters, including the South Caucasus, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Belarus.

The ministers will have a working lunch with Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs.At a working breakfast preceding the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the ministers will meet Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

While in Brussels, Foreign Minister Haavisto will also attend a meeting of the Nordic and Baltic counties in NB6 format and a meeting of Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany in the N3+1 format.

Inquiries:

Joel Linnainmäki, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 350 466

Matti Nissinen, European Correspondent, tel. +358 295 351 78

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi