French Presidency of the Council of the EU:update

Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, and the Defence Ministers of EU Member States.(@J.SARAGO)

Published on January 16, 2022

On 13 and 14 January 2022, the European Union Foreign Ministers met, as part of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, at the Atelier des Capucins in Brest (Brittany), in the “Gymnich” format, following an invitation from Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Josep Borell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.


The meeting enabled ministers to exchange views on the issue of security in the European Union’s eastern neighbourhood, against a background of increasing strategic tension between Russia and Ukraine, and on the situation in both Kazakhstan and Belarus. On this occasion, the European Union notably restated the need to pursue a policy based on two courses of action.

First was the adoption of a strong dissuasive position regarding any challenge to principles fundamental to European security, especially principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the right for States to choose their own security arrangements and alliances. Following on from the European Council in December, ministers highlighted the importance of maintaining close coordination among Europeans. They also restated their determination to adopt, where necessary, large-scale sanctions in the event of any violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

In addition, ministers fully supported their ongoing diplomatic efforts, especially the “Normandie” format conducted by France and Germany for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. They noted a consensus on the importance of continuing to engage in robust discussions with Russia, in accordance with European terms and parameters since the issue is primarily one of Europeans’ security.

Together with ministerial defence colleagues, ministers also discussed the “Strategic Compass”, which represents one of the French presidency’s main priorities. This document, a true European defence White Paper, serves to provide the framework for a joint analysis of the global upheavals and threats the European Union faces. It also serves to steer the European defence and security policy for 2030, the objective for the European Union being to increase its capacity, autonomy and sovereignty. Discussions enabled everyone to share their views and prepare the technical negotiations in such a way that the Strategic Compass document would be the most strategic, practical and ambitious document possible, with a view to its adoption by heads of state and government at the European Council on 24 and 25 March.

Relations with China also featured on the agenda, so as to reaffirm both the unity of the European Union on this affair and the full solidarity of Member States with Lithuania, which is the object of unacceptable diplomatic and economic pressure from Beijing. They repeated how important it was for the European Union to have the means to combat all forms of economic pressure to protect sovereign interests.

The European Union’s wish to reinforce its presence in the Indo-Pacific region was reaffirmed, in the continuity of the European strategy backed by the European Council in October. This was one of the French presidency’s priorities and the focus of a ministerial forum on 22 February in Paris.

Ministers spoke of the need to reinforce the European Union’s strategy of influence in international organizations so that our common vision might prevail, based on the respect of human rights and the promotion of effective and open multilateralism. They all agreed that this was all the more important and opportune that Europe (the European institutions and Member States) represented one of the main funders (often the primary funder) within these organizations.

Relations between Europe and Africa were also addressed in the presence of Moussa Faki, Chair of the African Union (AU) Commission and Aïssata Tall Sall, Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, in view of the upcoming presidency of the African Union. Discussions included the importance of rebuilding the Euro-African partnership, which would be at the core of the EU–AU Summit in Brussels on 17 and 18 February, to enable a mutual reinforcement of both European and African sovereignty. The aim of a three-fold set of priorities around prosperity, security and mobility, was confirmed by all. Everybody mentioned the importance of grounding this rebuilt partnership in practical and structuring projects, especially in terms of health and vaccination sovereignty and on the reinforcement of the Euro-African security architecture.

Lastly, ministers discussed the situation in Mali, which was particularly concerning, since the presence of mercenaries from Russian company, Wagner, had now been established there, and the transition timescale had not been respected by the junta. Ministers highlighted the need for a coordinated European response, supporting the decisions taken by ECOWAS, including by adopting targeted sanctions against the Malian junta as soon as possible. They also recalled that engagement on the ground would continue, adding that this would not be maintained at any cost, and that close monitoring of the evolving situation was ongoing.