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Press material Monday 15 May 2023

● Council of the EU   15/05/2023 13:28 | Press release | EU appoints a new Special Representative for the Gulf region   Today the Council appointed Luigi di Maio as EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Gulf region. The tasks of the new EU Special Representative will be to further develop a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic EU partnership with the countries in the Gulf region by supporting the High Representative in the implementation of the foreign policy and security aspects of the EU joint communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf of 18 May 2022 and the related Council conclusions of 20 June 2022. The EUSR will seek best ways to contribute to the stability and security of the region by engaging and supporting dialogue and long-term regional solutions with individual Gulf partners and relevant regional organisations. He will equally support and cooperate with the Council and the European Commission to help ensure the consistency of the EU’s external action in the region, and contribute to increase the visibility and understanding of the role of the EU. Mr. Di Maio will take up his duties on 1 June, with an initial mandate of 21 months. Mr. Di Maio served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy from 2019 to 2022. He held previously the positions of Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies and Member of the European Union Affairs Committee in the 17th Italian legislature. EU Special Representatives are proposed by the High Representative to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries, and provide the EU with an active political presence in those areas. Currently, ten EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. Luigi Di Maio CV EU special Representatives (EEAS website) EU joint communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf (EEAS website, 18 May 2022) Council approves conclusions on a strategic partnership with the Gulf (press release, 20 June 2022)

Press material Monday 15 May 2023

● Council of the EU   15/05/2023 10:49 | Press release | Involving young people in a sustainable future for Europe   The EU should do more to get young people involved in developing policy for a sustainable future, ministers for youth said in Brussels today. In conclusions approved at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, EU ministers stressed the need to consider the social dimension of a sustainable Europe for young people, highlighting their role as key players in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. "There can be no sustainable future without young people. We need to ensure that the next generation plays a meaningful role at every level in policy-making on issues relating to sustainability." Jakob Forssmed, Swedish Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health In its conclusions, the Council calls on member states and the European Commission to: explore ways to increase the involvement of young people in the political process, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds promote opportunities for educators and youth workers to develop knowledge, skills and competences to address issues of social inclusion and sustainable development take a cross-cutting approach to integrating a youth perspective across all policies and levels of government Promoting the EU’s youth agenda The conclusions are in line with the European Youth Goals on inclusive societies and a sustainable green Europe, which focus on protecting young people from social exclusion and empowering them to act as agents of change for sustainable development. They also build on commitments made as part of the European Year of Youth 2022 to increase the participation of young people in policy-making processes. Prioritising mental health Ministers acknowledged the difficulties facing young people today, including the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the energy crisis, and climate change. They stressed the need to address the mental health problems affecting increasing numbers of young people as a result of these challenges. In particular, they called on member states to foster ‘mental health literacy’ through access to quality education and health services.

Press material Monday 15 May 2023

● Council of the EU   15/05/2023 10:17 | Press release | Council will sign agreement with Montenegro on Frontex cooperation   The Council today adopted a decision to sign an agreement with Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement will allow joint operations to be organised and Frontex border management teams to be deployed in Montenegro, subject to the country’s agreement. "Frontex has an important role to play in ensuring the EU’s borders are safe. Stronger cooperation between Frontex and Montenegro will enhance security at the EU’s external borders." Gunnar Strömmer, Swedish minister for justice Thanks to the agreement, Frontex will be able to assist Montenegro with managing migratory flows, countering illegal immigration, and tackling cross-border crime.

Meetings Monday 15 May 2023

● Council of the EU   15/05/2023 09:44 | MEETING | Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 16 May 2023   Background brief - Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 16/05/2023

Press material Sunday 14 May 2023

● European Council   14/05/2023 19:03 | Statements and remarks | Press remarks by President Charles Michel following the trilateral meeting with President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia   It was a pleasure to host President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan today for a fifth meeting in Brussels. Our exchanges were frank, open and result-oriented. They focused on progress on the path towards Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization. The leaders shared a common willingness for a South Caucasus at peace. I commend their respective efforts. Together, we reviewed all issues on our agenda. Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On border issues, we reviewed progress and the next steps regarding the delimitation of the border. In this context, the leaders agreed on the resumption of the bilateral meetings on border issues. The leaders confirmed their unequivocal commitment to the 1991 Almaty Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 km2) and Azerbaijan (89,600 km2). The ultimate delimitation of the border will be agreed through negotiations. On connectivity, the sides made clear progress in their discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic links in the region. Positions on this topic have now come very close to each other in particular on the reopening of the railway connections to and via Nakhchivan. Their respective teams have been tasked to finalize an in principle agreement on the modalities for the opening of the railway connections and the necessary construction works together with a concrete timetable. They also agreed to draw upon the support of the World Customs Organization in supporting this work. On humanitarian issues, there has been an understanding that further detainees would be released in the coming weeks. I also stressed the need to safeguard the mutual understanding that soldiers who have simply got lost and crossed to the other side would continue to be released through a speedy procedure. We also discussed the importance of stepping up work on addressing the fate of missing persons and on demining. We continued our exchanges on the issue of the rights and security of Armenians living in the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. I encouraged Azerbaijan to engage in developing a positive agenda with the aim of guaranteeing the rights and security of this population, in close cooperation with the international community. I also raised the need for a transparent and constructive dialogue between Baku and this population. I believe that it is important to refrain from hostile rhetoric, engage in good faith and show leadership to reach mutually-acceptable solutions. The EU has no hidden agenda. Our sole aim is to help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a comprehensive and fair peace. We are ready to contribute to their joint efforts. We have agreed to hold the Brussels meetings as often as necessary. Leaders will meet again in Brussels in July. And as was already announced publicly, we will also meet again in the very near future together with President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany on the margins of the 2nd European Political Community Summit in Chișinău. I also intend to invite the leaders for another such meeting in the margins of the third EPC summit in Granada in October.