Remarks by HR/VP Josep Borrell upon arrival at the Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council
Q. Are you pleased with the ceasefire agreed over the night?
For sure, I am pleased with the ceasefire. The ceasefire is good news, at least it is a [sign of] good will. Let us see how it works. It is a pre-condition to increase the humanitarian help for the people in Idlib.
Q. Do you think the EU might need to improve relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin?
Is that the solution? We need to improve relations with Turkey and with Russia. We have many issues that we have to discuss, that is why we are here.
Q. We heard you may discuss more funds for Turkey, how many Member States would be willing to commit?
We are going to discuss it. Turkey has a big burden, 4 million people [to provide support], we have to understand but at the same time we cannot accept that migrants be used as a source of pressure. But Turkey is supporting a big burden, for sure.
Q. What can the Ministers concretely pledge today to help make the ceasefire permanent?
Unfortunately for us we are not in the capacity here of [enforcing] a ceasefire between people who are not here. We have to concentrate our efforts on the humanitarian side.