eu2010 - Informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs ministers (Gymnich)

6-03-2010 Informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs ministers (Gymnich)

Place

Palacio de Viana (Cordoba)

Time

1:00 PM

Participants

Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Member States and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Programme

During two days (5 and 6 March), the Ministers will discuss topics of great political significance, particularly the role of the European Union in the Middle East and the prospects for the Peace Process and our relations with the great emerging actors in the international arena, as well as with the Western Balkans. It is also intended that the Ministers will spend part of the discussions on the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the new European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy instruments, in particular the European External Action Service. After the work session on 6 March, there will be a joint press conference with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton (12.45 PM)

Additional information

The Gymnich takes its name from the German castle in which the first meeting of this kind was held in 1974, during the German Presidency of the Council. It is held every six months. This time, both the chosen location – Palacio de Viana, in the historic town of Córdoba – and the limited number of topics are meant to promote the spirit of European family which has always characterised these meetings. The main idea of this Gymnich, which for the first time will be attended by Lady Catherine Ashton, is that the exchange of ideas will allow the High Representative to design and implement genuine European Union foreign policy strategies.