Media advisory: Informal meetings of EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers in Brussels

This week, High Representative Josep Borrell will chair an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on Thursday 29 August, followed by an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers on Friday 30 August. The meetings will take place in Brussels, in the Europa Building of the Council of the EU.

Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers - Thursday 29 August

The meeting will start with a discussion on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and on global outreach, with the participation of Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba.

EU Foreign Ministers will then exchange over lunch with Foreign Affairs Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations and regional and global issues of shared interest.

In the afternoon, the discussion will focus on the situation in the Middle East on the background of the latest escalation of tensions in the region and the ongoing negotiation efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, will join the discussion to debrief Ministers on the humanitarian situation on the ground.

Ministers will also discuss the political crisis in Venezuela, in the aftermath of the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice. Nearly one month after the presidential elections on 28 July, Venezuelan authorities have not published or allowed for the independent verification of the official voting records ("actas") from all the polling stations.

The High Representative will make a short statement to the media before the meeting at around 8:15 CEST, which can be followed on EbS.

The press conference after the meeting is scheduled for +/- 17:15 CEST and will also be broadcast on EbS.

Informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers - Friday 30 August

During the first session, EU Defence Ministers will receive an update on the developments at the frontline from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. They will also review the progress made in providing military support to Ukraine. Ministers will address EUMAM Ukraine and the next steps, progress in the mobilisation of the revenues stemming from immobilised Russian assets ("windfall profits") for the provision of military equipment to Ukraine, Member States led initiatives, and further cooperation with NATO, in light of the outcome of the Washington Summit.

Ministers will then exchange views on CSDP operational engagement and defence readiness. The discussion will focus on the situation in the Middle East, particularly the dangerous escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, and the challenges in the Red Sea and the Gulf region, including Operation ASPIDES. In light of the June European Council Conclusions on security and defence and the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, Ministers will also discuss how the EU can help increase the overall defence readiness of Member States, including as regards financing for defence and efforts to address critical capability gaps. UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, NATO Assistant Secretary General Angus Lapsley and EP SEDE Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann will attend this session.

Over lunch, Ministers will take stock of the work done by the EU Satellite Centre during the past years, and exchange views on how the Centre can best support the EU's work on security and defence, going forward.

The High Representative will make a short statement to the media before the meeting at around 8:30 CEST, which can be followed on EbS.

The press conference after the meeting is scheduled for +/- 15:00 CEST, and will also be broadcast on EbS.

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