Discussion at Toledo's Gymnich Conference focuses on issues in the Sahel region and backing for Ukraine
The Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) will convene in Toledo, Spain, for an informal meeting on the upcoming day. The Spanish Council of Member States, which has been presiding since July 1, 2023, will host this gathering.
The primary focus of the discussions will be the EU's engagement in the Sahel region and support for Ukraine. In the morning, the Foreign Ministers will delve into the current situation in Ukraine, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba attending for a working breakfast.
The informal meeting will also address the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad. The military coup in Niger presents new challenges for the EU's engagement in the region, and the discussions will include cooperation regarding the withdrawal of EU troops from Mali.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) are currently mediating in the Niger crisis, and Germany and the EU are supporting and backing these diplomatic efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger. Recently, German Foreign Minister Baerbock discussed ways to restore democratic and constitutional order in Niger with Senegal's Foreign Minister, Aïssata Tall Sall, in Berlin.
The goal of the meeting is a honest and in-depth assessment of the situation in the Sahel region. The Foreign Ministers will aim to explore ways for the EU to foster cooperation that promotes stability, democracy, and the rule of law in the region.
In addition to the Sahel and Ukraine, the meeting will also touch upon long-term support for Ukraine, including humanitarian, financial, and military assistance. Reconstruction efforts for Ukraine will also be discussed.
The situation in the Sahel has significant implications for stability in northern and central Africa, as well as the Gulf of Guinea, and thus indirectly for European security. Preparations for the high-level UN General Assembly week in New York in mid-September will also be discussed.
Tomorrow's exchange in Toledo will include Niger's Foreign Minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, and Omar Touray, President of the Commission. The current Foreign Minister of Niger, who participates in the Informal Member Meetings in Toledo, is Yaou Sangaré Bakary, appointed on August 9, 2023.
The meeting will conclude with a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the Sahel region and a collective commitment to addressing these issues for the benefit of the region and the EU.
