Mrs. Caroline Gennez, Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation and Major cities and M. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy. © Belgian presidency
Practical information
Date
11 - 12 February 2024
Place
Egmont Palace
The Foreign affairs Council (FAC) of the European Union convenes in configurations of foreign affairs ministers, foreign trade ministers, development ministers and defense ministers, and is chaired by the High Representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, M. Josep Borrell. However, rotating presidencies continue to support the Union’s external action, inter alia by hosting informal gatherings on ministerial level.
The FAC in its formation of development ministers meets formally usually once per semester. This meeting is planned on 7 May 2024 .
In the framework of the 2024 Belgian Presidency and together with the High Representative, Mrs. Caroline Gennez, Minister for Development Cooperation and Major cities will also invite her European colleagues to an informal meeting of the development ministers for a social visit and dinner on the evening of 11 February and 12 February in the Egmont Palace in Brussels.
The informal meeting of European Ministers is starting in the Arenberg room in Egmont Palace, on February 12.
Development Ministers of 27 member states, European Commissioners Jutta Urpilainen and Janez Lenarčič , Tomas Tobé chairperson of the DEVE committee and Carlos Zorrinho, co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and the Presidents of the EIB, Nadia Calvino and the EBRD, Odile Renaud-Basso, are invited.
Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and M. Phillipe Lazzarini, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Commissioner-General, are special guests.
Meetings of the FAC in its formation of Development Ministers are also prepared in a dedicated session of the council working group on development cooperation (CODEV).
Informal sessions do not lead to any binding conclusions, they provide general political guidance for future work in the Council and promote common approaches. A joint press statement by HRVP Borrell and Minister Gennez will however serve to inform the public.
Specific discussion papers as provided, usually by the EEAS, may contribute to its preparation.
Press moments
Doorsteps
- Caroline Gennez, Minister of Development Cooperation and Major Cities Policy of Belgium
- Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management
Press conference
- Part 1: Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- Part 2: Caroline Gennez, Minister of Development Cooperation and Major Cities Policy of Belgium
- Part 3: Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management
- Part 4: Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management