30 September 2019

EU concentrates its efforts on the Ministerial Meeting on Syria and the promotion of multilateralism at the 74th United Nations General Assembly

The overarching priority of the EU at the UN General Assembly was to promote multilateral solutions to ongoing crises. Federica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, participated in several multilateral and bilateral meetings. The EU hosted the sixth high-level event on the Syrian crisis, chaired by Mogherini and Commissioner Christos Stylianides, with the aim of reaffirming the EU’s support to a political solution to the conflict and addressing humanitarian and resilience needs. Mogherini welcomed the announcement by the UN Secretary General António Guterres about the formation of the Syria Constitutional Committee in the framework of UNSCR 2254 and the Geneva Process. Mogherini also met with the Foreign Ministers of Lebanon and Jordan, who appreciated multilateral support to their countries in hosting Syrian refugees but pointed out that more efforts need to be done. Ministerial meetings on the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for Iran and on the situation on Libya were also held, and Mogherini met with the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, the Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and the UN Special Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salamé in the margins of UNGA. The HR/VP also addressed the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Palestine and spoke to President Abbas. The President of the European Council Donald Tusk also addressed global leaders on the importance of international solidarity and the need to take joint action to address the threats that the globe is facing, in particular climate change.

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