Year's Final Foreign Affairs Council by the EU: Eastern Partnership, Ukraine, and Iran Discussion

In a significant gathering, EU Foreign Ministers convened in Brussels on September 18, 2025, marking the 15th meeting of the year. This meeting, the last formal Foreign Council of the year, was focused on critical issues, including the situation in Eastern Europe, the Eastern Partnership, and relations with Iran.

The Eastern Partnership, comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine (excluding Belarus, whose membership has been suspended since 2021), was at the forefront of discussions. The character of the Eastern Partnership has evolved with the granting of accession perspectives for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova in July 2022.

The Ministers discussed the current situation in Moldova and ways to further support the country in the crisis. They also addressed the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's power and water supply, and the need for further aid measures for Ukraine was emphasised.

In a significant move, the Ministers planned to adopt two new sanctions packages against Iran. The sanctions packages, significantly shaped by Germany, include listing high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Guards and other security and police bodies. This decision comes in response to the Iranian regime's continued brutality against its own population.

The new Council conclusions on Iran reflect the changed reality in relations with the country. This will mark the first adoption of new Council conclusions on Iran since 2019.

The Ministers also discussed the ninth sanctions package against Russia, aiming to target those responsible for attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including by listing nearly 200 individuals and companies.

The Ministers will meet with their counterparts from the Eastern Partnership countries for the first time since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They will draw a first balance of the ongoing winter aid for Ukraine and discuss the current human rights situation worldwide, in light of the World Human Rights Day on December 10.

Furthermore, the Ministers plan to increase the funds of the European Peace Facility, which supports Ukrainian forces, to 5.5 billion euros by 2027. The Ministers will also address relations with the Southern Neighbourhood during this crucial meeting.