On 11 May 2026 in Brussels, Belgium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will participate in the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
Support for Ukraine and containing Russia. The discussion among ministers will focus on all forms of continued support for Ukraine. The ministers will also discuss further pressure on Russia, including new sanctions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, will also participate in the meeting.
The situation in the Middle East. EU foreign ministers will discuss cooperation with Gulf countries, including the proposal for a security and defence partnership, as well as the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Western Balkans. The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss deepening EU cooperation with the Western Balkans in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The meeting is expected to approve European Peace Facility (EPF) support measures for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, as well as discuss the EU’s options for supporting Montenegro in strengthening its resilience against hybrid threats in the context of EU accession.
Ministers are also scheduled to hold an informal discussion with Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, on support for Ukraine and the containment of Russia, as well as the security situation in the Middle East and the Arctic. Ministers will also discuss cooperation with Western Balkan foreign ministers on Information Integrity and Countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), as well as EU enlargement.
Following the Foreign Affairs Council, a high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children will take place, as well as the EU–Syria High-Level Political Dialogue, during which opportunities for deepening EU–Syria cooperation are expected to be discussed.
The Foreign Affairs Council deals with matters relating to external action, including the common foreign and security policy, the European security and defence policy, external trade, and development cooperation. The Council’s main task is to ensure the unity, consistency, and effectiveness of the EU’s external action.