Press release regarding the departure of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Brussels for participation in the EU Foreign Affairs Council
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides, travels to Brussels tonight, to participate in Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union that takes place tomorrow there tomorrow, Monday (12/7).
In the course of the Council's session, the Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States will be briefed under the current affairs item of the agenda by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on the situation in Afghanistan following the latest developments, as well as on the next steps in addressing the situation in Lebanon. Under the same item, FM Christodoulides will brief his counterparts on the latest developments in relation to the Cyprus problem, with particular emphasis on the issue of the fenced area of Varosha, in view of the Turkish President's illegal visit to the occupied part of Cyprus announced for July 20th.
Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers will exchange views on the geopolitical implications of the use of digital technologies, as well as on the progress made in the development of the EU's Strategic Compass, with a view to further strengthening the Union's role as a credible actor on the international scene when it comes to security.
During the working lunch, the Ministers will have the opportunity to exchange views with the Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Yair Lapid, on issues pertaining to the EU's relations with the country, on regional issues of common interest, as well as on the Middle East peace process.
Before the Council gets under way, Minister Christodoulides will host a working breakfast for his EU counterparts, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, during which EU-Egypt relations are expected to be discussed, as well as a series of regional and international issues of common interest.
Finally, on the sidelines of the Council, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is expected to hold a series of contacts, including separate meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and with the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, with whom he is due to discuss issues of common interest, respectively.