Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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418. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7008/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I participated in the most recent meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels on 9 February where there was a comprehensive discussion on: the situation in Ukraine; the Union's efforts to combat international terrorism; as well as the continuing crises in Libya and Yemen.

Given the developments on the ground in the run up to the Council meeting, the situation in Ukraine was the focus of much discussion. My French and German colleagues provided useful updates on the visit by President Hollande and Chancellor Merkel to the region. As the Deputy will be aware, the emphasis at the Council – as it continues to be – was on the need to find a political solution. My own view is that the Minsk agreement offers hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but a sustainable ceasefire is critical if progress is to be made towards that objective.

Dialogue with Russia and others remains important, as is the need for pressure to reinforce that dialogue. In that regard, the Council unanimously agreed to a set of additional listings (consisting of an asset freeze and travel ban on 19 individuals and 9 entities) against separatists in Eastern Ukraine and their supporters in Russia, involved in action against Ukraine's territorial integrity. However, to allow space for the diplomatic efforts that were advancing in parallel, the Council decided to put the entry into force of these measures on hold until Monday 16 February.

Ministers also had an exchange of views on counter-terrorism issues, the second such discussion since the tragic events in Paris at the beginning of the year, and in advance of further discussions to take place later that week at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government. The Council considered how the EU can most effectively prevent and combat international terrorism, including by strengthening engagement with, and support for, third countries, in particular in the Middle East and North Africa. We also agreed to redouble our efforts to address underlying factors, in particular the on-going conflicts in Europe's southern neighbourhood.

Libya and Yemen were also a focus of discussion at the Council, where the situation on the ground in both countries remains extremely volatile and is a cause of great concern, particularly from a humanitarian perspective.

I joined with my colleagues in welcoming the convening of UN brokered talks on Libya, and in encouraging all relevant actors to participate in a process that aims to bring an end to the current conflict.

On Yemen, the Council also expressed deep concern for the intensifying humanitarian, economic and security crisis and reaffirmed our commitment to continue to support Yemen, its political transition, and to stand by the Yemeni people at this critical juncture.