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23 Sep, 2020

ALDE Party President urges EU Ministers to act swiftly

On 21 September, Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell led the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, attended by EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The agenda included, among others, a meeting with Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya and a discussion on possible sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko.

The 27 Ministers left the meeting without a unanimous agreement, however, which according to ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen proves that there is a big flaw in the EU foreign policy, stating:

“Belarus is left without hope and the European Council must now break the deadlock. Otherwise the EU foreign policy has become an illusion.”

On 22 September, EU Member States gathered for the General Affairs Council to discuss the European coordination of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. The Member States agreed on a proposed approach for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to publish every fortnight information on the number of new cases per 100,000 people, the testing rate per 100,000 people as well as the number of positive cases. Moreover, the next steps should include intensifying coordination efforts and encouraging member states to find a common ground for other possible measures.

President Hans van Baalen called for EU ministers in the General Affairs Council to decide on EU coordination when it comes to national measures so that the second wave of the pandemic can be fought with consideration to the freedom of travel.

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