The meeting focused on unresolved conflicts in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood, EU-Africa relations, and the EU’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific region. The ministers also met with their Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi.

Minister Rau noted that unresolved conflicts in the eastern neighbourhood are the result of Russia’s actions, as the Russian Federation opposes its neighbours’ independence and European aspirations. The chief of the Polish MFA called on the EU to intensify its support for reforms of the security sector, building cybersecurity infrastructure, and the interoperability of partners’ armed forces. He stressed that, in the long run, successful reforms in partner countries may contribute to the settlement of the conflicts. This requires an ambitious Eastern Partnership policy and reconciliation among societies. Minister Rau declared that during its OSCE chairmanship in 2022, Poland will foster the necessary cooperation between the EU and the OSCE in this area.

Speaking on the EU-Africa relations strategy that is being developed, the head of Polish diplomacy underscored that it is necessary to enhance cooperation between the continents in, among others, trade, investment promotion, and a just climate transition. This will not only facilitate mutual economic benefits, but will also improve prospects for Africa’s young and an ever-growing population, and thus will help combat the root causes of migration.

Minister Rau expressed support for efforts to develop the EU’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific region which is becoming one of key centres of economic growth, new technologies and innovations. The top Polish diplomat pointed out that the aim of the EU’s engagement should primarily be to promote transparent norms and internationals standards. He stressed that a close transatlantic cooperation should be the key element of the EU’s strategy, also in the context of coordinating the EU’s policy of creating closer links (so-called connectivity) with similar initiatives undertaken by the US and Japan. The chief of the Polish MFA highlighted the potential of the Three Seas Initiative in this regard.

During his talks with the head of Jordan’s diplomacy, Minister Rau pointed out that a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the co-existence of two states, requires political will on both sides.

Moreover, the ministers discussed the measures the European Council agreed on this Monday with regard to the EU’s response to the forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft in Minsk. The diplomats stressed that the leaders’ decision on further sanctions against Belarus must be implemented as soon as possible, including targeted economic sanctions that Brussels has already started to work on. The European Commission reiterated its assurance that the Economic Plan for Democratic Belarus will be published in the next few days.

 

MFA Press Office
 

Photos: Tymon Markowski / MFA