The European Union election document is being drafted with possible measures in response to the unilateral actions of Turkey and the pseudo-state in the enclave of Varos in occupied Famagusta, according to community sources.
A European Union (EU) official told reporters ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday (November 15th) that the option paper "is being drafted, has not been finalized and will be under the microscope of the Council of Foreign Ministers in December." ».
Consultations will also take place between the Member States and the European External Action Service on the drafting of the document.
"We are concerned about the situation in occupied Cyprus, following Turkey's unilateral actions in Varos, which were also condemned by the United Nations," the European official said.
"The key issue for us, the key issue is the resolution of the Cyprus issue, for the good of the Cypriot people and the Eastern Mediterranean," he added, noting that the UN will take the appropriate steps to restart the dialogue.
Asked to clarify the reasons why the selection document is not on the table at this meeting and if there are difficulties and disagreements, the Community official noted that what matters is that there is an ongoing process.
As he said, the services of the Commission on Foreign Affairs will contact the Member States, will discuss the options document, which options they prefer or do not approve, and the document will be on the table at the next Foreign Affairs Council in December.
He also explained that the discussion of the Ministers in December will be enriched by the discussions that will take place at various levels between technocrats, including the 27 ambassadors at COREPER.
He reiterated that what the EU was focusing on was that unilateral action in Varos was jeopardizing the prospects of continuing the process for a comprehensive solution, which he said was the most important goal, and noted that the Member States were already have expressed their solidarity with Cyprus regarding the effort to change the status of part of the enclosed city.
The meeting of the Foreign Ministers on Monday will focus on issues related to the Western Balkans and sub-Saharan Africa (Sahel), while the Ministers will have meetings in the context of contacts with the Eastern Neighborhood countries.
The issue of Varos will be discussed under the heading of current affairs, along with the situation on the border with Belarus, the hostilities in Ethiopia and the developments in Sudan.
In particular, in relation to Belarus, the ongoing hybrid attack on the EU and the instrumentalization of people who are not really interested in the Minsk regime will be discussed, he said.
He also referred to Turkish Airlines' announcements about the exclusion of state-owned Belarus Belavia from the company's network of connections in the Middle East and the suspension of non-return ticket sales to Minsk to people from countries of immigrant origin.
As he said, the contacts with the Turkish authorities were the ones who contributed to this development and the contacts continue.
He also referred to the possibility of sanctions against the Belarusian regime, while when asked about the role of Russia, he noted that he does not know if it is negative or positive at the moment, but that the country can help if it wants.
Asked about the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border, the official said the EU was consulting with its partners in the US and the UK, and reiterated Europe's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In relation to the Western Balkans, the official clarified that enlargement is not on the agenda, but that areas of security and defense co-operation, as well as cybersecurity issues, will be discussed.
Issues for the Western Balkans include the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.
In relation to the Sahel, the discussion will focus on EU political and military missions in the region, and in particular in Mali.
Regarding Ethiopia, he noted that the EU's priority, through the actions of the EU Special Representative and contacts with the African Union, is to achieve a ceasefire.
Sudan will also be on the agenda due to the coup overthrow of the government and human rights violations in the country.