Statement by the spokesperson of Charles Michel

 

Highlights of the agenda of the informal ministerial meeting on education and youth 12/09/2023 | Article Highlights of the agenda of the informal ministerial meeting on education and youth The informal ministerial meeting on education and youth to be held in Zaragoza on 18 and 19 September will address how to foster political engagement among young people, care for students in vulnerable situations and the promotion of common values and democratic citizenship in the EU, among other issues.

Library blog Wednesday 13 September 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine   Insights into Ukraine's civilian-based actions during the first four months of the war in 2022; how Ukraine’s NATO membership can strengthen Europe’s security; how the post-war reconstruction will determine the development of regions; options for securing free trade navigation in the Black Sea; how Ukrainian gas storage can contribute to Europe’s security of supply; and the catastrophic consequences of Kakhovka dam demolition are some of the items dealt with in the present update.

Press material Wednesday 13 September 2023

● European Council   13/09/2023 07:18 | Statements and remarks | Statement by the spokesperson of Charles Michel, President of the European Council, regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan - 12 September 2023   In line with elements and proposals outlined publicly in our statement on September 1st, 2023, President Michel continued to be closely engaged in advancing those and other approaches, with a primary focus on de-escalation of tensions and the humanitarian situation facing the Karabakh Armenians. In particular, President Michel has been engaged in intense contacts over the past few days, both with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev during telephone conversations on September 9, 2023, but also with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the margins of the G20 New Delhi summit on September 10, 2023. These efforts, supported by daily interaction of his office and EUSR Toivo Klaar with Baku, Yerevan and representatives of Karabakh Armenians, have been aimed at de-escalation of tensions and working out a solution for unblocking humanitarian access to Karabakh Armenians. In this context, we note the passage today of a Russian humanitarian delivery via the Ağdam-Askeran route. We understand all the sensitivities associated with this development; it is our expectation that it will create a momentum for the resumption of regular humanitarian deliveries to the local population. The situation on the ground is deteriorating quickly. It is vital to ensure essential products are supplied to Karabakh Armenians. The opening of the Agdam-Askeran route today is an important step that should facilitate the reopening also of the Lachin corridor. We call on all stakeholders to show responsibility and flexibility in ensuring that both the Lachin and the Agdam-Askeran route will be used. This difficult situation on the ground has lasted for too long; it is now important to find sustainable and mutually acceptable solutions to ensure humanitarian access, also ahead of the autumn and winter seasons. We reiterate our strong belief that the Lachin corridor must be unblocked, in line with past agreements and the ICJ Order, and underline our belief in the usefulness also of other supply routes, for the benefit of the local population. The EU expects that today’s developments will be followed by more concrete steps in the coming days and weeks, also regarding the dialogue between Baku and Karabakh Armenians on their rights and security, reconciliation efforts and the overall Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.