Belgium and Foreign Affairs Minister Vanackere to host the "Gymnich"
![](http://www.eutrio.be/files/bveu/imagecache/node_main_img/media/CDN/photos/20100910_BELGIUM_EU_INFORMAL_FOREIGN_AFFAIRS_GYMNICH_DAY1_PART_THREE/print/20100910doba028.jpg "Belgium and Foreign Affairs Minister Vanackere to host the "Gymnich"")
On Friday 10 September and Saturday 11 September 2010, Belgium is hosting the informal meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the European Union, also known as the “Gymnich”. The name “Gymnich” refers to the site in Germany where an informal gathering of this type was first held during the German presidency of the Council of the European Union in 1974.
Since the Lisbon Treaty came into force, the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the European Union has been headed by Ms. Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. At this informal meeting, the Foreign Affairs Ministers are being received by Minister Steven Vanackere and Lady Ashton.
The aim of this meeting is to provide the Ministers the opportunity for a free, informal and intense exchange of ideas on a number of current issues regarding the foreign policy of the European Union. Rather than reaching formal conclusions, the “Gymnich” aims to sketch the major outlines of the European Union’s foreign policy.
The Belgian edition of the “Gymnich” on 10 and 11 September has a well-filled agenda. Along with other topics, the focus of today’s discussion was European humanitarian help for Pakistan and the prospects for cooperation and aid to Pakistan on the short to medium term. Also on the agenda are the relations with strategic partner countries of the EU and the cooperation between the EU and Turkey in the area of foreign policy.
On Saturday, a working breakfast is being held with the 4 candidate Member States: Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia and Iceland.
