The informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European Union (Gymnich) begins its deliberations in Limassol today, Thursday, 28 May.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos will co-chair the meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Also invited to attend the meeting are India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Their participation is considered particularly significant in light of developments in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s regional role and India’s involvement in issues related to maritime security, trade and supply chains, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
On Wednesday, 27 May Kombos hosted a dinner for the Foreign Ministers and which was attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
The informal Gymnich meeting is taking place at the Port of Limassol.
During the meeting, Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss current regional and international developments with the two high-level guests from India and Saudi Arabia, before turning to the war in Ukraine and the ongoing Russian aggression.
Strategic initiatives on security and defence will also be discussed, including preparations for the new European Security Strategy.
Gymnich allows for a more open exchange of views among Foreign Ministers
Gymnich is the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, held once every six months within the framework of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
It is not an Informal Council, as is the case with other Council formations, but rather a strategic-level meeting aimed at reviewing key foreign policy priorities.
The format allows Foreign Ministers to engage in more open exchanges of views on foreign policy, security and geopolitical issues at both regional and international level.
The name “Gymnich” derives from Schloss Gymnich, a castle in Germany where the first meeting of this kind took place in 1974.
A key feature of the meeting is its informal nature, as no formal decisions are taken and no Council conclusions are adopted.
The objective is to provide space for frank and strategic discussions outside the strict framework of formal EU meetings.
(Source: CNA)
