Nanna Sumuvuori, from Finland EU debates on Western Balkans

I am Johanna Sumuvuori, I will be attending today's FAC meeting on behalf of Minister Haavisto. https://www.eudebates.tv/ There will be many current issues discussed today but the main topics are going to be the EU-US relations, transatlantic cooperation and relations and the EU's strategic approach to the Western Balkans area. #eudebates #NorthMacedonia #Albania #WesternBalkans As for the Western Balkans this is not going to be the discussion about the enlargement process, but of course it goes without saying that Finland thinks it is very important to keep the perspective for the EU membership open for the Western Balkan countries and we are in favour of keeping active also the process with North Macedonia and Albania. I think we just celebrated the Europe Day yesterday. I think it is good to think how to enhance EU's global efforts in things like combatting climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic. It needs alliances and friends and it is very important that we also give perspective for the young people in Western Balkans for the future. The membership process in itself makes it possible to make such reforms in society. On transatlantic relations, it is very important that the EU has this chance and this new momentum to discuss how to make joint efforts in certain global challenges together with the US, such as the climate change and tackling the pandemic. This is a great moment now that the US is back to the Paris Agreement but also willing to re-engage with certain structures, international organisations such as WHO and the UN Human Rights Council. This is a great moment to discuss how to deepen the EU-US relations. https://www.eudebates.tv/ #eudebates EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meet in Brussels to discuss transatlantic relations and the Western Balkans. Ministers also take stock of the latest international developments, including: the situation in the Sahel, the global health and preparedness for pandemics with a view to the upcoming G20 Global Health Summit, and the situation in Afghanistan, following the US troop withdrawal announcement Furthermore, they focus on the relations with Russia, the state of the negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, the recently postponed Palestinian elections, and the situation in Lebanon. John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is joining the EU Ministers by video conference for an exchange of views focusing on climate issues. EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs meet, on 10 May 2021, in Brussels. The meeting is chaired by Josep BORRELL, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. EU Foreign Affairs Ministers focus on the transatlantic relations and the Western Balkans. Furthermore, they take stock of the latest international developments in the Sahel, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon and discuss the relations with Russia, the state of the negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the upcoming G20 Global Health Summit. # https://www.eudebates.tv/ #eudebates