Current Affairs
The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, was briefed about the situation in Ukraine, aid to Palestine, implementation of the Gender Action Plan III and follow-up to the EU-CELAC Summit.
Pilar Cancela Rodríguez – State Secretary for International Cooperation of Spain – chairing the meeting on behalf of High Representative Borrell, provided an update on the state of play of EU support to the reconstruction of Ukraine , with a special focus on the security and resilience aspects, and the broader context of the EU’s security commitments to Ukraine stressing the need to adopt the Facility as swiftly as possible to ensure stable and predictable financing for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Ministers were also updated on the Commission’s review of ongoing development cooperation with Palestine. They stressed the need to ensure humanitarian aid access to the Gaza strip.
On the occasion of the adoption of a joint report by the European External Action Service and the European Commission on the mid-term evaluation of the Gender Action Plan III, Minister Cancela Rodríguez, together with Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, informed the ministers about the implementation of the plan during its first 2 years (2021-22) and announced that it will be extended until 2027.
Minister Cancela Rodríguez also gave a brief follow-up to the EU-CELAC Summit organised in Brussels on 17-18 July 2023, welcoming the signature of the “EL PAcCTO” Europe-Latin America Assistance Programme against Transnational Organised Crime, which is the main flagship in the field of justice and security in EU cooperation with Latin America. The discussion also touched upon the state of play of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Informal exchange with World Bank President Ajay Banga
The exchange took place via videoconference in the context of the ongoing reform of the multilateral development banks, in the wake of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (Marrakesh, 9-15 October) and ahead of the Climate COP28 in Dubai (30 November – 12 December). It provided an opportunity to focus on President Banga’s strategic vision and ambitions for the World Bank , on strengthening partnerships, including with the EU, and on enhancing action on climate change and biodiversity. The meeting with Ajay Banga was the first in his tenure as World Bank President.
Team Europe engagement in complex environments in Africa
Over a working lunch, Ministers exchanged views on the Team Europe engagement in complex environments in Africa. The discussion focused on the emerging “belt of instability” from the Gulf of Guinea to the Indian Ocean, with a specific emphasis on the Sahel, aiming to work towards a common understanding of the challenges in those environments and to share ideas for a coherent Team Europe approach.
Ministers also touched upon the situation in the Horn of Africa, which is marked by acute insecurity and significant humanitarian needs with on-going conflicts in Sudan and Somalia. Humanitarian needs in Ethiopia also remain high due to the effects of climate events, conflicts and intercommunal violence, and disease outbreaks.
The discussion among Ministers contributed to a common understanding of the challenges for EU engagement in complex environments and facilitated the exchange of initial ideas for a coherent, integrated but differentiated Team Europe approach in these countries.
Global Gateway Forum
Furthermore, under any other business, Minister Cancela Rodríguez and Commissioner Urpilainen briefed Ministers about the Global Gateway Forum, which took place in Brussels on 25 and 26 October. During the Forum, a range of agreements and investment commitments in the areas of green energy, research and education, critical raw materials and transport corridors were signed with partners from across the globe.
Also under AOB, Commissioner Urpilainen welcomed the signature, on 15 November, of the Samoa Agreement, which replaces the Cotonou Agreement
- Council Conclusions on the Team Europe Approach (press release, 21 November 2023)
- Council Conclusions on the Triple Transition: A social, green and digital transition (press release, 21 November 2023)
- Council Conclusions on relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean (press release, 21 November 2023)
- Council Conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report 14/2023 on Programming the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe
- Council Conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report No. 21/2023 on the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls
Meeting information
- Meeting n°3985
- Brussels
- 21 November 2023
Preparatory documents
Outcome documents
Source – EU Council