FM in Luxembourg for EU meetings

Greece’s new foreign minister Stavros Lambrinidis heads to Luxembourg on Sunday to take party in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the afternoon, called by EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy Baroness Catherine Ashton to discuss developments in North Africa and the wider Middle East. The discussions will be followed by a working dinner, during which the Middle East Peace Process will be discussed.

On Monday, Lambrinidis will take part in a foreign ministers’ Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which will discuss developments in the Southern Neighborhood, the Middle East and the relevant peace process, Sudan, Albania, Belarus, and matters pertaining to the European Neighborhood Policy.

On Monday afternoon, an EU-Western Balkans ministerial meeting will take place on sidelines of the Council.

The EU foreign ministers’ General Affairs Council will meet on Tuesday, with Greece represented by alternate foreign minister Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou. The agenda includes preparation for the EU summit meeting on June 23-24 and presentation of the European Council’s program for the next 18 months.

This will be Lambrinidis’ first participation in the EU foreign ministers’ councils since the assumption of the Greek foreign ministry on Friday.