New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been extended a special invite by the European Union Presidency to participate in an informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers on September 3, during which the discussions are likely to focus on the developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific.

According to sources, Jaishankar will interact with the EU foreign ministers at this informal meeting.

The EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is also expected to be outlined in September this year.

Slovenia holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the period July to December 2021.

“In this capacity, it will host an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on September 3, which will be attended by EU Foreign Ministers. This format, known as the Gymnich meeting, is a highlight of each Presidency.

“A special invitation has been extended to EAM by the EU Presidency to participate in this informal meeting and interact with the EU FMs.

“Focus of discussions is likely to be on developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific,” the sources said.

In April this year, the EU foreign ministers met to draw up a strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The Council Conclusions on the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was adopted by 27 Foreign Ministers of the EU’s Member States, emphasising the EU’s recognition of the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region.

The EU’s Foreign Ministers at the meeting decided to reinforce the EU’s strategic focus, presence and actions in the Indo-Pacific and deepen engagement with those partners that have already announced Indo-Pacific approaches of their own, the EU said in a statement on April 19.

The informal format meeting, known as Gymnnich, is organised by the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. These Informal Meetings of EU Foreign Ministers are held every six months.

The first meeting of this kind took place at Schloss Gymnich in Erftstadt in Land North Rhine-Westphalia in 1974, and the name has remained since then. The Gymnich meeting traditionally takes place back-to-back with the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers.