Upon arrival to the Foreign Affairs Council, the EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini said  the 28 Foreign Ministers “mainly” discuss the situation in Jerusalem; and the perspectives for a relaunch of negotiations for a two-State solution.

“We will then continue with the ministers having a main discussion on the Middle East in wider terms, not only Israel-Palestine, but also our support to the countries in the region – I think of Lebanon, first of all”. Mogherini used the occasion for announcing her next week visit there, December 19, in demonstration of the EU support to Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri and the institutions of the country.

Mogherini  also indicated that she will  pay attention to a renewed strategy on Iraq, convinced that the European Union is “crucial” in supporting the country in a transition period after Daesh dominance. She ensured the EU will be focus on consolidation of  the institutions in Iraq and the security situation. The diplomat also confirmed that there will be a discussion with the Ministers on the wider Middle East situation.

“We will have an important decision with the Foreign Ministers, that will adopt a historic decision to establish the Permanent Structured Cooperation-PESCO”, – Mogherini declared. “25 Member States have notified their intention to participate. They will do it formally today. And they will also, I would expect, identify 17 concrete projects that will start immediately and operationally the Permanent Structured Cooperation in the field of security and defence”- she continued.

The European Union is determined to continue supporting Sahel countries on their way to development and security, fighting trafficking and organised crime. Mogherini confirmed meeting with the African foreign ministers and the development ministers on the follow-up of the European Union-African Union Summit, in particular on the work established with the African Union and the United Nations.

“We will then host the foreign ministers of the 5 partners we have in the Sahel, the G5 Sahel” – Mogherini said, announcing that in the framework of the fight against trafficking of human beings and saving and protecting migrants all along the route the first high-level meeting of this task force with the participation of the Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission Amira ElFadil and the UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the IOM Director General will take place on 14 December, Thursday in Brussels,