Doorstep remarks by High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini ahead of the European Council

We will tackle the migration and refugee crisis. As far as my work is concerned, I will report on the steps we have taken on the external side of our decisions. I have to say implementation of the external steps is ongoing, rather well.

The preparation of the Valletta summit with our African friends is proceeding well. Yesterday there was the second preparatory meeting and I will be in Addis Ababa meeting the African Union on Monday to continue preparations.

On the Eastern route, as you know, Foreign Ministers on Monday adopted Council Conclusions. They decided and mandated me to engage intensively with regional diplomacy in particular. I have already received an Iranian delegations to discuss on ways to open a political process for solving the crisis in Syria. I had the chance to speak with Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, just today, to report about the state of discussion within the European Union, the state of play of my talks with the regional partners and also to hear from him in view of this European Council. As you know, we have ongoing talks with Turkey. Not for me to give you news now but, I would say, we have rather encouraging ones.

Q: On the Trust Funds

The European Union budget is fully mobilised, both on the Syrian Trust Fund and on the African Trust Fund. The European Union money is there. I would expect that Member States, that are asking the European Union and tasking the European Union to work on the root causes – notably on Africa: development or economic and social opportunities for the African youth inside the continent – would invest money in that. So, I expect Member States to match the European Union budget dedicated to that, and also for Syria, obviously. I hope, I will push for it and raise the issue, I know President Tusk is going to do the same and President Juncker as well; Member States need to put their money where their mouth is.

Thanks.