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Minister Coveney attends EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels to discuss EU-Africa Relations, Strategic Communications, Civilian CSDP and the Security and Defence aspects of the EU Global Strategy

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Simon Coveney TD, today attended a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels. EU-Africa relations, Strategic Communications, the civilian aspects of the EU’s Common Security and Defence policy and the security aspects of the EU Global Strategy were on the agenda.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Coveney said:

“At today's Council meeting in Brussels, Ministers discussed preparations for the upcoming EU-African Union summit. I debriefed my EU colleagues on my recent visit to the Horn of Africa, and emphasised the importance of deepening the EU's political engagement with Africa in the future. I outlined my view that the EU and Africa need to be strengthening and developing structures for working together on the common challenges we face in the coming years, including on climate change, economic development, opportunities for young people, governance, food security, radicalisation, and other areas.

Ministers also had a good discussion on the EU’s strategic communication efforts, including on the importance of effectively communicating our policies and values, strengthening a pluralistic media environment in the EU’s neighbourhood and countering disinformation.

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss progress on developing and strengthening civilian CSDP peacekeeping missions. In addition we had an exchange of views on the implementation of the security and defence aspects of the EU Global Strategy."