Eurasia Press & News
Foreign Ministers from the 27 European Union (EU) member states opened their monthly meeting in Brussels on Monday morning to prepare for the EU-Russia summit later this week, and international issues including the latest development in Moldova, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Iran and Georgia.
The EU-Russia summit is scheduled to be held in the far-eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk on May 21-22, and is expected to focus on a recent proposal by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to discuss a new European Security Treaty, energy security, and negotiations on a new bilateral framework agreement.
The EU leaders are also expected to explain to Medvedev that EU Eastern Partnership program, which will draw six former Soviet republics closer to the EU, is not aimed at Russia.
The EU foreign ministers will be joined by EU defense ministers to discuss the EU peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR Althea) and Operation Atalanta, the EU-led anti-piracy effort in Somalia.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers will discuss preparation for the June EU summit in Brussels.
On the sidelines of the two-day foreign ministers’ meeting, an EU-New Zealand ministerial meeting, an EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Council session and an EU-Turkey Association Council session will also be held.
