Foreign Ministry Secretary of State to participate in GAERC meeting

On 22 July, Normans Penke, the Foreign Ministry Secretary of State, will participate in the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) at Brussels.

During the External Relations session, a discussion is planned about the relations between the European Union and Ukraine with respect to the EU-Ukraine Summit Meeting scheduled for 9 September in Evian, France. In preparation for the event, GAERC intends to debate the EU's objectives for the coming summit as well as the future prospects of EU-Ukraine relations.

GAERC will review the situation in the Western Balkans. Ministers are due to discuss Serbia and its further Euro-integration process. A discussion will also be take place on Kosovo in relation to the deployment of the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX).

Foreign ministers will exchange views also on the situation in Somalia in relation to the acts of piracy which endanger shipping security in Somalia's coastal waters and food aid deliveries under humanitarian programmes. The meeting is also expected to evaluate the prospective EU policies and eventual sanctions against Zimbabwe where the crisis caused by the forcible election process is still ongoing.

The ministers will debate topical issues related to the Middle East and the EU role in these regions, as the situation in the region remains tense. A separate discussion on Iran has been foreseen, during which the ministers will be informed about the development of the situation with regard to the Iranian nuclear programme and the meeting of Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, with Iran's representatives on 19 July.

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