(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU's Political and Security Committee (PSC) convened Tuesday at the level of ambassadors for an extraordinary meeting to discuss three major crises: Iraq, Gaza and Ukraine.
A spokesman for EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, said in a press statement that on the situation in Iraq, there was unanimous agreement on the need for urgent and increased international coordinated humanitarian support, as well as the necessity to access the increasing number of people forced to flee the conflict, in particular those blocked on Sinjar mountain.
"EU Member States welcomed the efforts by the US and partners to stop the IS (Islamic State) advance and facilitate access for humanitarian support. They also welcomed the nomination of a Prime Minister designate and expressed continued support for the constitutional process, underlining the importance of a political solution to the current crisis and the urgent formation of an inclusive Government," he said.
"The PSC noted the urgent request by the Kurdish regional authorities to certain EU Member States for military support and underlined the need to consider this request in close coordination with the Iraqi authorities, as required by the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, while stressing the importance of coordination with international partners," he said.
The EU foreign service, known as EEAS, "will swiftly engage in consultations with the neighbouring countries of Iraq and partners in order to develop options for further EU action." On Gaza, the PSC was briefed by the EEAS on the latest developments and by the European Commission on the humanitarian situation, and had an exchange of views on possible EU action. At the invitation of the PSC, the EEAS will develop options for an EU contribution in the post-ceasefire scenario, he said.
On Ukraine, the PSC was briefed on the political, security and humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine.
The PSC recalled EU Conclusions of June and July 2014, in particular with regards to the ceasefire, border control and the need for Russia to refrain from gathering troops near the Ukrainian border.
The PSC had a preliminary discussion about the impact of Russian retaliation to EU sanctions and its legality, and emphasized the need to share with third countries the EU assessment of the situation in this regard. In that context, it welcomes the intention of the European Commission to convene this week two technical meetings at expert level on agriculture and trade, he added.
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