Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland

Foreign Minister Valtonen to attend informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland

An informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, also known as Gymnich, will take place in Wicklow, Ireland, on 1-2 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU's external action and the situation in the Middle East. The foreign ministers of Iceland, Britain, Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine have been invited to join the discussion on Russia's war of aggression.

Russia has continued its attacks on civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. The resilience of Ukrainian society is becoming ever more important as winter approaches. At the same time, the shift in the geopolitical landscape requires the EU to act more strategically and decisively in promoting its values and interests.

The Gymnich meeting takes place twice a year and is hosted by the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU at the time. It provides an opportunity for foreign ministers to engage in more informal and strategic discussion on current topics and EU foreign and security policy guidelines.