EU foreign ministers gather in Wales

Europe’s foreign ministers gather in the UK town of Newport for an annual informal, brain-storming session.

Turkey’s EU entry bid will dominate the ‘Gymnich’ summit – named after the German town where the first such informal EU meeting was held.

Turkey and Croatia

EU foreign ministers may ask Ankara to give assurances on Turkey's intentions to implement an agreement to full European customs union - a deal that includes Cyprus.

The Republic of Cyprus has threatened to veto EU membership talks with Turkey unless Ankara abides by the treaty protocol, signed in July.

EU lawyers are "looking at the character" of the precise terms in which Turkey agreed up to European customs rules governing the free movement of goods.

Ankara’s agreement to customs union with all 25 EU countries was a precondition to opening Turkey's membership talks set by Europe's leaders in December 2004.

But following the Ankara signing of the customs protocol, Turkey made a declaration refusing full political recognition of Cyprus.

Turkey’s formal recognition of the Republic of Cyprus is not a precondition for entry talks but will be a part of the EU membership process.

EU foreign ministers may seek assurances on “full and complete implementation” of the agreement including a guarantee of access for Greek Cypriot ships to Turkish ports – a basic requirement of customs union.

Turkey’s EU entry is contested by Austria but with deep scepticism also in the French and German political establishment.

EU leaders are currently committed to begin open-ended membership talks with Turkey  on October 3.

March EU entry negotiations with Croatia were put on ice after European leaders decided Zagreb had not cooperated enough with war crimes investigators.

Foreign ministers will review progress with International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague’s attempts to track down Croatian war crimes suspect general Ante Gotovina.

Iran and Russia

EU foreign ministers must decide where next in deadlocked talks with Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The EU – led on this front by the UK, France and Germany – is seeking enforceable Iranian pledges that Tehran’s nuclear programme will not be used for weapons.

The EU3 are to seek European and wider support to refer Iran to the UN Security Council after months of failed talks.

The British EU presidency has written to ministers highlihgting the need to build an interantional coalition ahead of a September 19 meeting of  the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.

The EU has convinced the US to back the European multilateral, negotiated approach – for now.

On Russia, ministers will assess relations with Moscow, focusing on the awkward issue of visas and border policing.

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