Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, is hosting the annual conference of ambassadors from EU member states around the world. This gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFR). It takes place amidst ongoing geopolitical pressures, intense geopolitical and economic competition, and accelerating global fragmentation. According to a European statement issued by Kallas's office in Brussels, the event provides an opportunity for EU leaders and senior officials to discuss how the EU can adapt and reposition itself within the changing global order. They will explore ways to strengthen its strategic interests in a rapidly evolving world, striving for greater autonomy. Discussions will focus on enhancing Europe's security and defense, bolstering its readiness and resilience against hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation, and ensuring unwavering support for Ukraine. Particular attention will be paid to how to strengthen the stability of the EU's neighborhood, support its enlargement prospects, and deepen partnerships with global actors, including countries of the Global South. Discussions will also focus on how the EU can strengthen economic security, consolidate public diplomacy, and expand its international outreach.

The conference brings together more than 145 ambassadors and heads of EU delegations from around the world, along with heads of missions and operations of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy. It is a pivotal moment for the strategic coordination of the EU's global diplomatic network.

The conference will be opened on Monday, March 9, by Vice-President for External Relations, Kaja Kallas, who will deliver a keynote address. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mitsola, will also address the attendees. This will be followed by a keynote address from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. On Tuesday, March 10, the President of the European Council, António Costa, will address the ambassadors. The events will continue until March 13.

The program also includes an exchange of views with several members of the European Commission, including Commissioners Andrius Kubilios, Marta Kocsis, Joseph Sekela, and Haja Lahbib, reflecting the close cooperation between the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission in formulating and implementing the EU's external action.

The Secretary General of NATO, several EU foreign ministers, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have also been invited.

The EU Ambassadors' Conference is an annual strategic meeting of the EU's diplomatic leadership. It provides an opportunity to assess global developments, coordinate priorities, and strengthen the coherence and effectiveness of the EU's external action. The 2026 edition is taking place at a crucial moment for European diplomacy: as the EU reshapes its Common Foreign and Security Policy to respond to an increasingly competitive global landscape, the conference underscores the Union’s determination to act with unity, resolve, and strategic clarity to advance its interests worldwide.