Minister of Foreign Affairs highlights advances in EU-Tunisia relations

The European Union and Tunisia re-established a "platform for dialogue that is essential for both parties" following the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs João Gomes Cravinho, and the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib’s visit on 9 and 10 May, representing the Vice-President and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrel. 

"That is our conviction" said the Portuguese Minister who, at the end of the EU Foreign Affairs Council reiterated that the fruitful dialogue with the Tunisian authorities enabled the identification of new paths for deepening EU-Tunisian relations in the short and long term, "based on the spirit of partnership and fundamental principles".

The Council also discussed the support to Ukraine and started "drafting the 11th sanctions package against Russia, which will be mostly focused on fighting evasion of the existing sanctions, tightening the circle", he said.

The Minister underlined that still regarding assistance to Ukraine, "Portugal has been the bridge for Latin America and Africa". 

"I had the opportunity of facilitating a meeting between the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs", which is "part of a strategy to counter Russia’s influence and fake narrative in other parts of the world", he added.

The heads of diplomacy of the 27 took stock of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as the Horn of Africa and the Western Balkans, among other current affairs.