Kranj, 3 September 2021(TDI): EU Foreign Affairs Ministers hold an informal meeting on 2 and 3 September 2021 in Kranj. The meeting is chaired by Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The two-day event hosted by Slovenian Foreign Ministers Dr Anže Logar and chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell provided a platform for an open debate on the Union’s future efforts in Afghanistan and the EU-China relationship.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Grlic Radman thanked Dr. Anze Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia for hosting and organizing the Gymnich meeting and congratulated everyone on the success of the meeting.
The Gymnich meeting held from 2 to 3 September 2021 is the informal meeting of EU Ministers for constructive discussion on several regional and global topics.
During the meeting, Afghanistan was one of the topics that were under the discussion. There has been a convergence of views that has brought a broad consensus. This extraordinary session of Foreign Ministers and Ministers of the interior was a step where states from the EU are speaking with one voice.
The message is clear that events witnessed in 2015 and 2016 should not be repeated. This was stressed by Dr. Logar. He also further explained the discussions about the Taliban and their intent to have an inclusive transitional government that will continue to respect human rights and especially women’s rights.
Speaking during the Press Conference and sharing the insights on the meeting held, High Representative Borrell said that the future of Afghanistan remains the key issue for the EU. EU is also committed to supporting the Afghanistan population and helping them recover.
He has further stressed that there are five benchmarks that the EU will consider while engagement with the Taliban. First and foremost is that Afghanistan will serve as a base for terrorism, second is respect for human rights especially women’s rights, third is rule of law and freedom of media, fourth is easy access to humanitarian aid and finally allowing the safe departure of the foreign nationals and Afghans especially in lines with the call made in UNSC resolution 2593 and Taliban’s own promises.
It is important to note here that this ministerial has focused on the Afghan situation in the first day. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Flippo Grandi made the remarks. He has highlighted the Afghan situation. It was further stressed that to stop the further humanitarian catastrophe and a possible migration wave towards Europe then EU must cooperate with Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.
During this ministerial meeting, it was unanimously decided on the urgent need for an agreement on the EU’s comprehensive strategy towards Afghanistan. It was also urged to develop an EU Strategy towards Afghanistan. This should include all the security considerations from migration to the threat of terrorism and drug trafficking.
During the second day of the meeting, a comprehensive review was made on EU-China relations. There was an urge for coordinating and developing a comprehensive approach towards China. It was urged that the EU’s engagment with China should be ordered, gradual and coordinated.
After the discussions, Minister Dr Logar hosted a working lunch with the Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The lunch gave the EU foreign ministers an opportunity to discuss the geopolitical and geoeconomic trends in the Indo-Pacific Region, advocating the pursuit of closer partnerships between like-minded countries in the region where India plays a predominant role.
