European Union Foreign Ministers reiterated its firm commitment to Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, expressed concern about the dire humanitarion situation and deterioration of the situation in Iraq and Ukraine. They also discussed other top issues including Gaza and outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa.

“Ministers expressed more specifically their concern about the dire humanitarian situation and the deterioration of the security situation in Iraq as a result of the assaults by ISIL,” the Council said in conclusions after and extraordinary meeting.

“The EU will assess how to prevent ISIL benefitting from oil sales and condemns those funding the ISIL in contravention of UNSCR 1267 and subsequent resolutions. The Council recalled the substantial efforts of solidarity that the EU and its member states are making to provide humanitarian aid and welcomed the commitment of additional European funds as well as the mobilization of the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre and the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism,” the Council concluded.

The EU expressed its concern at the worsening crisis in Eastern Ukraine and its humanitarian impact on the civilian population.

Having expressed their support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence of Ukraine, the Council called on the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the United States and the OSCE to join the EU in finding a political, sustainable solution to this crisis.

“We heard from Frans Timmermans, the Netherlands Foreign Minister, about his visits, the work that has been done in the wake of the downing of the Malaysian airliner and the support that we want to give to the Netherlands and to all those who lost people as they now go through the painstaking work of identifying the bodies of people,” High Representative Catherine Ashton said after the meeting.

The EU noted that the grounds for the imposition of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation remain valid, and regrets the Russian Federation’s announcement of measures targeting imports of certain agricultural products originating in the EU.

The Council also adopted conclusions on the situation in the Gaza Strip and Libya and on the Ebola Crisis in West Africa.

“We talked too about the situation in Gaza and our deep concern again for the humanitarian situation, and our willingness to support the long term solution, the political solution that leads to two states,” Ashton said.

“I asked for the mandate from the Council to be able to do more work in discussions with the Palestinian Authority, with Israel, with Egypt, with Jordan and with all the countries most concerned,” she added.

Conclusions: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/144316.pdf

Ashton’s remarks: http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140815_02_en.pdf