On 14 April 2025 in Luxembourg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will participate in a meeting of the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council. Its agenda covers Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, further military support to Ukraine, the preparation of the 17th package of sanctions on Russia, and the fight against Russia’s unconventional threats, as well as ensuring Russia’s accountability, and progress achieved with the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, will join the opening of the meeting via videoconference.
An exchange of views will be held on the EU-Africa relations with a view to strengthening strategic partnership. Special attention is to be paid to the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan. The discussions will take place in the lead-up to the EU-African Union Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on 21 May 2025.
The Member States’ Foreign Ministers will also discuss the deepening of cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans countries through bringing the Western Balkans countries closer to the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The meeting will then address the issue of Armenia and Azerbaijan following a positive development in the peace process.
The Foreign Affairs Council deals with matters relating to EU external action, including the common foreign and security policy, the European security and defence policy, external trade and development cooperation. The Council’s main role is to ensure the unity, consistency and effectiveness of the EU’s external action.