On 4-5 April, the biannual informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European Union Member States, known as the “Gymnich”, will take place in Athens, in the context of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting will be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms. Catherine Ashton. The discussions will be dedicated principally to the EU’s southern and the eastern neighbourhoods – in both cases, against the backdrop of recent developments. Moreover, a discussion of EU Strategic Partners will take place, with consideration of how recent events are impacting these very important relations.

On the second day of the Gymnich, the Foreign Ministers of the candidate countries for accession to the EU have been invited to a joint working breakfast in order to exchange views on developments in the European Neighbourhood Policy.