Deputy Minister Klisović attends informal meeting of EU political directors

Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Joško Klisović 13 and 14 January in Athens attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministries’ political directors organized by Greece

Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Joško Klisović 13 and 14 January in Athens attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministries’ political directors organized by Greece, which is presiding over the EU Council. The political directors, in the presence of EU Special Representative Franz-Michael Mellbin, discussed future EU engagement in Afghanistan, the April presidential elections and security situation ahead of the planned withdrawal of international troops. Klisović underlined the importance of creating preconditions and security arrangements for countries like Croatia, who intend to stay present in Afghanistan and continue implementing projects even the international forces leave the county.

Also on the agenda was the situation in the Southern Neighbourhood, with an emphasis on preparations for the upcoming 22 January peace conference in Syria, destruction of chemical weapons and the grave humanitarian situation in the country. The political directors also discussed the current situation and prospects for future EU engagement in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, as well as the progress in talks on Iran’s nuclear program and the Middle East peace process. They also talked about the state of affairs in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, as well as the short and long-term EU activities in the region.

The meeting went on to discuss the current events, policies and programs in regard to combating terrorism, including the threat of foreigners – EU citizens, who chose to fight in Syria.

Following the Vilnius Summit in November 2013, the meeting focused on the events in Ukraine, the Eastern Partnership and preparations for the 2015 Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

The informal meeting of political directors is an opportunity for reviewing and exchanging opinions on the current foreign policy topics and crisis points, as well as for drawing up the foreign policy agenda for the following six-month period. In that sense, Klisović advocated paying more attention to issues and relations in Central Asian countries and maintaining the EU’s focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Croatia will continue contributing to. 

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