EU foreign ministers to meet in Brussels

NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 21 March. One of the main topics on the meeting agenda is Russian aggression against Ukraine. In their joint session, the foreign and defence ministers are also to adopt the Strategic Compass for security and defence cooperation in the EU. After the Foreign Affairs Council, Minister Haavisto will attend the opening session of the European Humanitarian Forum. From Brussels, Minister Haavisto will travel to Malmö, where he will attend the Nordic Council Theme Session on 22 March.The Foreign Affairs Council will continue the discussion on Russian aggression against Ukraine. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s invasion, which is a blatant violation of international law.  Finland responds to Russia’s actions as part of the European Union and considers it justified that the EU react strongly to Russia’s invasion. The EU must provide extensive political, economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine. It is also important to support the Eastern partner countries, especially Moldova and Georgia.The Foreign Affairs Council will also continue the discussion on the situation in Mali and the Sahel and the EU’s actions in the region. Finland stresses the importance of taking comprehensive measures to achieve sustainable peace and stability. The EU foreign ministers will hold an informal exchange with Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu on the impact of the war in Ukraine on Moldova. Relative to the population, Moldova has received the largest number of people fleeing Ukraine. Finland has supported Moldova by sending material assistance and three experts through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help with the coordination of assistance.The foreign and defence ministers are expected to adopt the EU’s Strategic Compass in their joint session. They have discussed the Strategic Compass on a regular basis, most recently in January. Finland aims at a broad-based, sufficiently political and concrete Strategic Compass that will develop and strengthen the EU’s security and defence cooperation. The EU must be able to bear responsibility and create security in an extensive and efficient manner. On 21 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto will also attend the opening session of the European Humanitarian Forum, hosted by the European Commission and France, which will focus on ways to strengthen the EU’s role in the promotion of international humanitarian law and the protection of humanitarian space.From Brussels, Minister Haavisto will travel to Malmö, where he will attend the Nordic Council Theme Session on 22 March to discuss the situation in Ukraine.