The event was held at the invitation of Britain’s foreign minister Jeremy Hunt.
Hunt told his counterparts from Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia and Hungary that a Brexit deal was necessary to maintain global security in the face of new and emerging threats, the Irish News reported.
The attendees spoke in favour of maintaining close relations with Great Britain within the scope of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The leaders of the 28 EU member states meet in Brussels on Wednesday for a European Council meeting, where they will focus on the progress of Brexit negotiations.
Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union in March.
The ministers also discussed Europe’s policy towards Russia, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership programme.
The Eastern Partnership, an initiative by Poland and Sweden, was launched in 2009 to forge closer political and economic ties between the EU and its eastern neighbours.
The talks were also centred on Transatlantic relations, with the ministers saying they hoped for further strengthening of NATO and adapting the alliance to new security challenges.
(aba)
Source: PAP