For the first time in ten years, ministers from our political family met ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) to align priorities and present a united political front at a moment of geopolitical uncertainty.
With authoritarianism and instability dominating the global arena, liberals emphasised the importance of unity. Leaders planned to shift from short-term crisis management to strategic long-term planning, coordinating an approach on key strategic areas.
The meeting was chaired by Dan Barna (USR, RO) and brought together key figures from across our political family. Participants included:
- Oana Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs (USR, RO)
- Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation
- Sepp Schellhorn, State Secretary (NEOS, AT)
- Yvan Verougstraete MEP (Les Engagés, BE)
Discussions focused on issues where liberal leadership matters most: standing with Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia, developments in the Middle East and defending human rights globally.
At a time where democratic values and international law are under threat, liberals stressed that Europe must remain a proactive and credible actor on the world stage.
This coordination comes ahead of a crucial FAC meeting in Brussels, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, who is responsible for shaping the Union’s external action.
While Europe faces overlapping crises and geopolitical tensions, liberals continue to highlight that cooperation is the path to security. This meeting allows ministers to enter negotiations with aligned priorities and objectives, rather than fragmented approaches.