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Minister McEntee attends the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Luxembourg to discuss the EU Global Strategy, CFSP Effectiveness, and Sudan

Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., is in Luxembourg today to attend a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers. At the Foreign Affairs Council, Ministers will discuss the EU Global Strategy, CFSP Effectiveness and Sudan. They will also have a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Jordan.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, the Minister said:

The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, three years following its launch. The High Representative, Federica Mogherini, will present a report assessing the Strategy, which outlines our achievements and considers new global challenges facing the EU. Ireland looks forward to further implementation of all strands of the Strategy.

Future challenges will require united, consistent and effective EU action.  As part of a review of effectiveness of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Ministers will consider ways to enhance EU unity, coherence and coordination, so that we can respond in a more flexible and strategic way.

In addition, my colleagues and I will discuss how the EU can best support the establishment of a credible political process in Sudan. The African Union Special Envoy for Sudan is expected to update Ministers on the situation. The EU should continue to support the African Union in its robust and principled efforts to ensure a political transition.

Finally, we will have an exchange of views with the Jordanian Foreign Minister. Ireland and our EU partners recognise and greatly appreciate the stabilising role that Jordan plays in the Middle East region.