Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz emphasised that the situation at the EU’s eastern border amounts to a hybrid attack from the Belarusian regime, which is using migrants. The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy made it explicitly clear that the situation at the Polish-Belarusian border was deliberately provoked by Alexander Lukashenko. Deputy Minister Przydacz also presented a detailed report on the current situation at the border and the causes of the crisis. He thanked for the words of solidarity and called for further support from EU member states and institutions. He stressed that this issue should be raised in diplomatic contacts with the migrants’ countries of origin and transfer in order to stop their organised influx into Minsk and that the EU should clearly and strongly condemn the actions of the Belarusian authorities. Today’s Council agreed that the situation at the EU’s eastern border requires an appropriate response from its member states. As regards the Belarusian regime itself, a decision has been made to activate measures in the context of the fifth round of sanctions.

 Ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit (15 December), Deputy Minister Przydacz underlined the strategic importance of the EU’s visible engagement in the region and looked forward to it giving new impetus to the Partnership, setting ambitious goals for its development for the coming years. He welcomed the proposal to focus these goals on resilience support, post-pandemic recovery and reform, objectives which correspond to the main challenges facing the Eastern partners. The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy stressed that the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit must be a milestone in the cooperation with our Eastern European partners and its agenda should include a number of elements, such as working together to reform Eastern European countries and bring them ever closer to Euro-Atlantic integration. These include, in particular, the countries which have expressed their wish to cooperate with the European Union, such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. In Poland’s view, concrete benefits for the citizens of partner countries are of key importance. These would result from, among others, the gradual alignment of their economies with the EU Single Market. The deputy minister also spoke about Poland’s role as the coordinator of vaccine donation from the EU to partner states.

While discussing the situation in the Persian Gulf, ministers welcomed the signs of stability and expressed their support for the EU’s growing engagement in the region, both bilateral and in relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council. They expressed hope that negotiations on the nuclear deal with Iran would be resumed shortly.

Speaking about Ethiopia, ministers said the international community should intensify its pressure to ensure immediate and unimpeded access for humanitarian organisations and respect for international humanitarian law. They furthermore said the EU needs to consider using all the tools at its disposal to help arrive at a political solution to the conflict, but at the same time it should maintain open channels of communication with the Ethiopian authorities.

Discussions on Nicaragua highlighted concerns over its authorities’ repression of opposition presidential candidates, opposition activists, human rights defenders and journalists in the run-up to the elections scheduled for 7 November. According to the FAC, the EU’s response to the coming elections should be coordinated with like-minded states, such as the US and Canada, as well as with regional organisations.

 

MFA Press Office