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EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on 20 October discussed strategies to counter the spread of Ebola, also the situation in Ukraine, Iraq and Syria (ISIL), Libya, the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East peace process.  

The EU member states supported the UN Security Council’s assessment that the Ebola outbreak constituted an unprecedented threat to international peace and security, and that there was a need to take all possible measures at the international and regional levels to stop this threat. The Ministers discussed EU member states‘ contribution in containing the outbreak, and ccordination of efforts inside the EU, and when providing support to the affected African countries. The Ministers agreed on the need to appoint a European coordinator for the fight against Ebola.

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, who attended the Council meeting, Lithuania’s army is considering a possibility to provide medical assistance. Lithuania is also considering other possibilities to contribute to the fight against Ebola. Currently, Lithuania is providing humanitarian aid through the UN World Food Programme, one Lithuanian representative is working with the UN mission in Liberia and one doctor is working in Sierra Leone in the “Doctors without Borders” program. The World Health Organization has declared that a billion-euro fund is needed for the anti-Ebola fight.

When discussing the situation in Ukraine, the Ministers mainly focused on the  security and humanitarian situation in the country. Lithuanian Minister underlined that it was too early to talk about the easing of the EU‘s current Russia sanctions regime and new initiatives of the EU’s relationship with Russia could not be considered, because Ukraine’s territorial integrity remained vulnerable, Ukraine border controled had not been fully restored and the Minsk agreements were not being fully implemented.

“If Russia intends to normalize its relations with the West, we will only welcome it, but, first of all, it has to take concrete steps to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and to stop questioning the European path that Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have freely chosen. Unfortunately, the reality is different so far,” said the Minister.

With regard to the situation in Iraq, the EU member states agreed unanimously that a joint and coordinated action was needed in the international community’s fight against ISIL: to destroy military and economic capabilities of ISIL, to increase the support for the affected countries and to counter the problem of foreign fighters who have joined the ranks of ISIL.  Minister Linkevičius pointed out that Lithuania was ready to contribute to the international community’s effort in Iraq with diplomatic and political means.

“Lithuania is currently providing humanitarian and medical assistance and will be ready to participate in the preparation of the anti-ISIL mission, when it is launched,” said the Minister.

The EU member states also exchanged views on the situation in Libya and the possible contribution of the EU to the stabilisation of the situation in this country, as well as the possibility to support the UN efforts in the country.

The Ministers also agreed that the humanitarian situation in Gaza required a prompt implementation of decisions taken at a donor conference in Cairo. The EU supports the Middle East peace process, while its own increasing involvement will depend on favourable political conditions.

In the margins of the Council, Minister Linkevičius attended the meeting of the Group of Friends of Georgia, where Georgia was represented by Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Pandzhikidze. The meeting discussed the necessity of a more rapid ratification of the Association Agreement by the EU member states, the implementation of the EU-Georgia Action Plan on Visa Liberalization and a possibility of granting an EU perspective to Georgia.