The European Union needs to be more active and more present in the Middle East, Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said upon his arrival at the informal Foreign Affairs Council held in Wicklow, Ireland.
“We are meeting in a time of protracted polycrisis, ranging from Ukraine, the Middle East, and in such times it’s important to have honest, open discussions of a strategic nature. And this is exactly the character, traditionally, of the Gymnich meetings,” Kombos said in his doorstep remarks on 2 September.
He noted that they would be discussing “the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine,” noting that the EU Foreign Minister would be joined by six of their counterparts from non-EU countries “who nonetheless have close links with our EU.” “And the message is going to be one of continuing support towards Ukraine, a message that is very clear and very important to be projected, especially towards the high-level week in New York in the next few days,” he added.
Kombos said they would also be discussing how the impact of the External Service can be more effective and efficient, especially within the multilateral framework. “In doing so, we have to remember that the EU is the biggest contributor, with 50% in terms of development aid, and 40% globally in terms of humanitarian aid,” he said, noting that that however, “is not being translated directly in proportionate terms into expanding the political bandwidth of the EU.” This is an issue that needs to be addressed, he added.
As regards the situation in the Middle East, Kombos noted that “this is a situation where diplomacy meets with conflict, and it’s a situation where we are in a perpetual state between war and peace.” “And this is extremely dangerous. Whether it relates to Iran, Hormuz, Gaza, the Red Sea. In all this, the European Union needs to be more active and more present,” he said, noting that he was looking forward to the deliberations.
(Source: CNA)
