The situation in Ukraine and EU's Eastern Partnership are high on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), starting at 9.30 on Monday 17 March in Brussels, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

 

The Council will then hold an exchange of views on Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a debate on how best to support on-going efforts in the Middle East peace process. EU’s foreign ministers will also address developments related to the crisis in Syria.

 

EU-Africa summit (to be held on 2-3 April in Brussels) and energy diplomacy are also on the agenda of the meeting that is expected to be concluded with a press conference at +/- 15.00 (CET). 

 

The EU-Uzbekistan co-operation Council will start at 16.30 (CET) on Monday, chaired by the Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Evangelos Venizelos. 

 

---

EU Ministers strongly condemned the referendum in Crimea and did not recognize the outcome. They also decided to introduce an additional set of measures against 21 officials responsible for actions threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity.

 

Read below the Council's conclusions as well as the restrictive measures adopted today.

 

Watch the Press Conference, following the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 March 2014 in Brussels, here.

 

Read more here.