Press Release: Foreign Affairs Council Meeting, Brussels, 31 January 2013

The Council reiterated the EU's strong and continued commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali. It welcomed the progress of the Mali armed forces, supported by France and states of the region, in the North of Mali against the terrorist groups. It stressed the importance of continuing international commitment in support of Mali, in particular the efforts
deployed by the African states. It also welcomed the adoption of a roadmap, a vital step towards fully re-establishing constitutional order.

The Council also welcomed the end of the transition in Somalia as a historic opportunity to leave behind two decades of conflict and undertook to sustain the EU's collective efforts to support Somalia's transformation. The Council had an exchange of views with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The Council took stock of the situation in Syria and Egypt as well as of the EU response to the Arab Spring, with a view to a debate at the European Council of 7 and 8 February.

The Council approved the crisis management concept for a possible civilian Common Security and Defence Policy mission to support border management in Libya.