European Council discusses Turkey and Belarus

The Special European Council began on 1 October with a working session and continued with a working dinner. The discussions concerned Belarus, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU’s relations with Turkey.

In their discussions on the situation in Belarus, the EU leaders stated that the presidential elections held in August were neither free nor fair, and they affirmed that the EU does not recognise them. The European Council unanimously condemned the violence, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment perpetrated by the Belarusian authorities against peaceful demonstrators and urged the Belarusian authorities to cease these activities. The EU supports the democratic right of the citizens of Belarus to elect their President through new, free and fair elections. The European Council also expressed support for the imposition of sanctions, which will be finalised immediately. 

At the working dinner, discussion continued on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, addressing the violence that has broken out between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The European Council was in favour of finding a solution through peaceful negotiations and expressed its support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. The EU High Representative was also asked to examine how the EU can further support the settlement process.

At the working dinner, the Council also heard about the poisoning of Aleksei Navalny and the actions taken by Russia. The Council urged the Russian authorities to fully cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to ensure an impartial investigation into the matter. The EU has stated that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law.

The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU’s relations with Turkey were the main topics of the working dinner. The EU is prepared to develop its relations with Turkey, including by modernising the existing Customs Union and intensifying cooperation on migration, but the European Council also made clear the EU’s willingness to defend the interests and rights of its Member States as required by Turkey’s actions in the future. If necessary, the EU will use all instruments and options at its disposal, including possible additional sanctions against Turkish operators. The necessity of these measures will be closely monitored and evaluated.

On Friday 2 October, the European Council will discuss topics related to the single market, the digital transformation and industrial policy. The Council will also affirm its conclusions on China.

At the request of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister Sanna Marin is also representing Sweden at the two-day meeting, as Prime Minister Löfven is unable to attend.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949 Lauri Voionmaa, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 295 160 306, Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office