The menu is EU-China relations! which will probably be less prominent than initially planned! given the situation in Afghanistan. “EU-China relations will probably remain in a state of perpetual balance between stabilization and escalation in the coming months. The importance of maintaining EU unity and solidarity! and the need to intensify information sharing and coordination in this regard are crucial,” Logar said.
GUEST SPEAKS: Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod also answered some questions from Playbook as soon as his plane landed in Ljubljana. Asked about plans to expand military forces, Kofod said the EU should take its time with the discussion. The EU should “be able to look at other tools,” he said, and not “jump to conclusions — I think that would be a mistake.” But he agreed with the concept of having two avenues for action: NATO and the EU.
Message to Russia and China: Amid
fear that Moscow and Beijing will move to recognize the Taliban before the West! Kofod said: “The obligation of the entire international community! including Russia and China! is that the progress made over two decades … is safeguarded.”
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CHINA ON THE AGENDA: Foreign ministers are also due to discuss China today! although Afghanistan could take up much of the time allotted! my colleague Jacopo Barigazzi writes to report. It will be the first discussion on Beijing since the EU imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Xinjiang in March. Beijing responded with its own sanctions on the Europeans! based on legal arguments that remain unclear to Brussels.
Looking for EUCO: For months
Several diplomats stressed the need to sit down and talk about China! given that the EU imposed its sanctions just a few months after reaching an investment agreement with Beijing… that the European Parliament! which must ratify the Count on the US? You bet: “The deficiencies agreement! then put on ice . The discussion is in view of an announced review of the China strategy of March 2019 and of BGB Directory possible talks between the leaders. “It is not entirely certain! but it will be discussed in principle in October at the European Council”! said an EU official.
INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY ALMOST DONE: The European Commission is putting the finishing touches on its Indo-Pacific strategy, which is expected to be made public by the time President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the European Union address on 15 September.