Press release
Minister Coveney to attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council - 10 April 2022
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
On 11 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, will attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.
Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine will feature across a number of discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council. EU Foreign Ministers are expected to take stock of EU support to Ukraine and discuss the geopolitical impact of the war on the wider region. They will also meet with the Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Norway on coordination in response to the war and will hold an informal exchange with the ICC Prosecutor, Mr Karim Khan, and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Ms Iryna Venediktova.
The Foreign Affairs Council will also discuss the Global Gateway, a new flagship global infrastructure programme, as well as recent developments in Mali, Libya and Yemen.
Speaking ahead of the discussion on Russian aggression against Ukraine, Minister Coveney said:
"EU support for Ukraine remains unwavering in the face of Russia’s continued illegal war. Our discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council will be an opportunity to build on our recent decision to introduce a fifth sanctions package targeting Russia and Belarus and the extension of various supports to Ukraine.
"The pursuit of accountability is a central feature of the EU response to this war and we continue to support the work of the ICC Prosecutor, who will meet with us in Luxembourg to update on his ongoing investigation into possible international crimes committed in Ukraine. The atrocities committed in the areas of Ukraine under Russian control are horrifying and Ireland has again called for Russia to implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, stop this illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine and withdraw its troops immediately."
The Minister commented on Mali:
"Ireland supports the continued EU prioritisation of the Sahel but is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Mali, particularly with regard to recent reports alleging the killing of civilians in Moura."