Jean Asselborn was in Amsterdam over the weekend to participate as Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs at the informal 'Gymnich' meeting held under the Dutch Presidency.
In an informal setting, the EU Foreign Ministers were joined by Defence Ministers for an examination of the development of the new global EU strategy on foreign and security policy, which the High Representative Federice Mogherini will have to submit to the European Council in June 2016. The new strategy will comprise the EU's foreign security policy priorities and interests for the next five to ten years and the implementation of instruments available for its foreign policy, including in the field of security and common defense policy.
"This unique setup reflects the importance of effectively linking foreign and security policy," commented Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders.
Next on the agenda was EU-Iran relations, following the entry into force in late January of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue and the lifting of EU economic and financial sanctions. The Union has stated that it is attempting to normalise its relations with Iran, exploring areas with the country such as energy, trade, migration, human rights and regional policy issues.
Luxembourg Minister Jean Asselborn welcomed the new phase in EU-Iran relations, stating that the situation in Iran ahead of elections remains complex. He highlighted the country as a key player in the Middle East with which the EU must fully cooperate to provide it with a contrsuctive role in resolving regional crises.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, chaired the informal meeting, prompting ministers to take part in a crisis simulation exercise which provided the basis for discussing possible responses to a fictitious but potential external threat.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for EU ministers to exchange views with their counterparts from candidate countries, including Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Macedonia, on the migration crisis and the individual challenges facing Turkey and other candidate countries along the Western Balkans route.
"The management of migration and refugee flows can unite us much more than it can divide and we will try and work in this direction today," commented Federica Mogherini ahead of the meeting.
Minister Asselborn warned that continued indiscrimate shelling in Aleppo and other areas of Syria could see a new wave of refugees arriving in Europe and called for European solutions to the crisis.
"The thought of some to use weapons at our borders to protect us is irresponsible," the Minister stated. "These refugees are fleeing the bombing and shooting in their country - and we would welcome them here with new shots?"
Photo by MAEE (L-R: Bert Koenders, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs; Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy)
