Foreign Affairs Council: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell ahead of the meeting
European External Action Service (EEAS)
14.10.2024
Luxembourg
EEAS Press Team
Good morning.
[At today's Foreign Affairs Council it is] more of the same - Ukraine and Middle East. In both [places] the situation is becoming worse.
In Ukraine the grain exports have become a problem again. Russia is hitting the ships [in the Black Sea], in three [latest] cases. The ships transporting grain have been attacked by the Russians. We have to increase our support. That is the only possible solution from our side.
We will continue discussing about how to unblock the European Peace Facility payments and how to increase the air defence capacity [of Ukraine].
We have to end the cycle of "they destroy, we repair." We have to avoid destruction. The winter is already there, the electricity system continues being hit and the war continues. Ukrainians are resisting but they need more support.
So, today the Member States will discuss [it], they will listen to the new Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine [Andrii Sybiha, via videolink] and we will - I hope - take some decisions in order to increase our support.
In the Middle East, the situation is getting worse and worse. Yesterday night, finally, after hours of discussions, we agreed on a EU27 statement supporting United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The twenty-seven EU members agreed on asking Israel to stop attacking UNIFIL.
Many European Member States are participating in this mission. Their work is very important. It is completely unacceptable, attacking United Nations troops. I want to remind everybody that it is not the Secretary General of the United Nations [António Guterres] who decides about this mission staying or not staying. It is the Security Council which has to take this kind of decision. So, stop blaming Secretary General António Guterres because, it is the Security Council who takes these kinds of decision, not him personally.
In the West Bank and in Gaza the humanitarian situation, the attacks against civilians, the destruction of infrastructure, and violence of settlers increases. In Jabalia's refugees camp [especially,] more than in other places.
So today the Member States will have to discuss again about what to do. There are proposals on the table: sanctioning violent [Israeli] settlers - even two ministers of the Israeli government. Let's see what the Member States want to decide.
Hostages are still not released, and the level of humanitarian support - measured by the number of trucks entering into Gaza - is at the lowest level since the beginning of the war. Famine is being used as a weapon of war. 400,000 people are being requested to leave again the North to the South. [They go] from the South to the North, from the North to the South. These people are exhausted. They cannot move once again.
It looks like the war will continue in Lebanon. We are asking again for the ceasefire - an immediate ceasefire on the whole region, in order to avoid a war with dramatic consequences for all of us. I will tell you after what the Ministers will have decided today.
We will talk about Venezuela. Certainly, we will also consider our partnership with Morocco - I am sure the Council will stress how important this partnership is.
Q: [Josep] Borrell, do you support [the request] by [the French President Emmanuel] Macron, and the Spanish Prime Minister [Pedro Sánchez], to stop providing arms to Israel?
On that there is quite an important division, because you could cite other Member[States] who are just on the opposite situation, asking for more arms delivery to Israel.
This is a national competence, Member States are strongly divided. I am sure that we will discuss about it, but I cannot anticipate the result.
Q: [On sanctions towards] Iran [for the delivery of missiles to Russia], can you elaborate a bit on that?
Well, the proposals are on the table. I suppose they will be approved, but I cannot tell you now. I will inform you later.
Q: Why is it so difficult for the European Union to speak with one voice on the Middle East conflict?
Well, I would prefer to be able to take a statement quicker. It takes too long to say some things which are quite evident. It is quite evident that we should be against Israeli attacks against UNIFIL, especially because our soldiers are there, many European soldiers are there, so I would appreciate if Members States could have reached an agreement on that quicker.
Q: High Representative, on Taiwan [inaudible]. Do you have a reaction to that?
It is not on the agenda, but maybe some Member [States] will raise the question.
Q: Will you discuss also, with the Ministers, Georgia and [inaudible]?
It is not on the agenda [as full point], but if some Member [States] want to discuss about it, we will do it.
Q: Is it also time to list the [Iranian] Revolutionary Guardas a terrorist organisation?
Yes, the proposal has been presented to the Member [States] quite a long time ago. The proposal has been presented, the working groups are dealing with that, but I do not think there will be a decision today.
Q: On the summit of the European Union with the Gulf Cooperation Council?
That is an important meeting. Yes, I want to stress the importance of the Gulf countries coming to Brussels for the first Summit between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council members - at this moment when the region is facing a big risk of war. This meeting is very timely, and a lot of people will come. I hope this meeting shows how important it is for the European [Union] the situation in the Gulf.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-262174
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