Written answers

Tuesday, 24 October 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

European Council Meetings

9:00 pm

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the September 2006 meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Finland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34529/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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From the 1st-2nd September I attended an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which took place in Lappeenranta, Finland. Such informal or 'Gymnich' meetings are held once every Presidency. The meeting was also attended by Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary General and High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Ministers discussed the situation with regard to the Middle East Peace Process, following the conflict in Lebanon. There was consensus on the need for the EU to build on the positive role which it is playing in Lebanon, by looking at ways to revive the broader peace process in the region. Ministers also had an exchange of views on Iran, and heard an update from High Representative Solana on the progress of his discussions with the Iranian negotiator, Ali Larijani, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the impasse in the Iran nuclear issue. Finally, Ministers held a general strategic discussion on Russia, focusing in particular on Russian foreign policy and its implications for future EU-Russia relations, as well as issues surrounding the negotiation of a new legal framework to govern EU-Russia relations.

As the meeting was informal, there were no conclusions adopted in respect of the items discussed, with agreement that all of these issues should be followed up at formal sessions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of which there have been two in the intervening period.

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