Brussels 12.02.2024 “We are going to take stock with the [EU] Cooperation and Development Ministers of our policy of cooperation with emerging countries. We are in the middle of the financial perspective” – the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said upon his arrival to Informal Foreign Affairs Council on the issues of the Development. It has to be reviewed what we have done and what still has to be done. We have to review the financial allocations in order to continue doing in the framework of these two wars, because certainly, everything that we do is being affected by these two wars [and] the perceptions of these wars around the world”.

“I have been in Ukraine. I will debrief the ministers on my visit to Ukraine – where certainly Russia continues indiscriminate attacks, I could witness them – and to continue encouraging Member States to support Ukraine as much as it takes, in order to reject the invasion.

“Obviously, we will discuss also about the situation in Gaza. [I am] happy to know that two hostages have been liberated, but also very much worried by the situation in the border with Egypt, where new military operations seem to be taken by the Israeli Defence Forces.

“[Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin] Netanyahu has been asking for the evacuation of a 1.7 million people without saying where this people could be evacuated [to].

“The situation with Egypt is very tense and we are extraordinarily concerned about what is happening there. Many ministers of the European Union have been issuing messages yesterday – me too – asking Israel not to prevent the humanitarian support to come into Gaza. If they launch a military operation at the border with Egypt, Egypt has already said that in this case, the humanitarian support will not be able to go into Gaza.

“The situation with Egypt is very difficult – [it is] understandable – so, let’s see what is happening in the following hours. All Foreign Affairs Ministers are following the situation, but we have to do maybe something more than just express concern”.
Arrival and doorstep by Josep BORRELL, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the informal meeting of Development Ministers taking place on 12 February 2024 in Brussels.

Arrival and doorstep by Josep BORRELL, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the informal meeting of Development Ministers taking place on 12 February 2024 in Brussels.