EU foreign affairs ministers to meet at informal Gymnich in Prague

EU foreign affairs ministers will meet at the Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) in Prague in the Czech Republic on 30–31 August. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting. The foreign ministers will discuss the EU’s relations with Africa and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They will meet the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

The EU foreign ministers will be discussing the state of the EU’s relations with Africa following the EU–African Union (AU) Summit that took place in February 2022. The ministers will considers how the Russian invasion of Ukraine affects African countries.

The foreign ministers will continue the discussion on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. They will exchange views on the short-term and long-term effects of the invasion, including issues relating to the EU’s common policy on visas. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It is responding to Russia’s actions as part of the EU.

In addition, the ministers will meet the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to discuss the EU’s Eastern Partnership, among other topics. Minister Haavisto will also attend the annual Forum 2000 Conference. There are also bilateral meetings in the minister’s programme.