The developments in Ukraine, Iraq and Syria as well as EU’s relations with Turkey and Albania are on the agenda of the EU and NATO summits, to be held this week in Luxembourg and Brussels, in which Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will participate.

On Sunday evening, Venizelos will attend an informal meeting of European and Arab Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg for a discussion of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

On Monday morning, Venizelos will head the European delegation at the EU-Turkey Association Council in Luxembourg. The Turkish delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, while EU Affairs minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will also participate. All the crucial international and regional issues are expected to be raised, with particular reference to the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue. Venizelos, Davutoglu and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule will hold a joint press conference after the end of the meeting.

On Tuesday evening and on Wednesday, the two Foreign ministers will participate in the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, the agenda for which includes the developments in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan and also issues regarding the prospects of new members and the strategic partnership with them. It is almost certain that Venizelos and Davutoglu will have the opportunity for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the official meetings.

Ukraine’s new Foreign Minister on Monday will brief the Foreign Affairs Council to be held in Luxembourg on the developments in Ukraine and the initiatives taken by President Petro Poroshenko.

On Tuesday morning, Venizelos will chair the EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference and then the General Affairs Council (GAC), which essentially concludes Greece’s EU presidency.

The GAC will prepare the agenda for the European Council to be held on Thursday and will reach conclusions on the European Maritime Security Strategy and the European Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region. The GAC will also consider Enlargement issues, including the Stabilisation and Association process with Albania.

During the GAC and the press conference that will follow, Venizelos will refer to the main achievements of the Greek presidency’s semester regarding growth, employment, the economic governance and particularly the Banking Union, migration policy and the European borders protection and as well as a comprehensive maritime policy.