BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers meet Monday with the deadly Paris attacks and the militant cell uncovered in Belgium dominating the headlines as they try to resolve sharp differences over ties with Russia strained to breaking point by the Ukraine crisis.
The Paris assaults by three French citizens linked to various militant groups in Syria and Yemen and the major Belgium counter-terror operation have concentrated EU minds on the need for much more cooperation to combat the threat posed by returning 'foreign fighters.'
Ministers will take no decisions but discuss a range of options as the bloc prepares for a special summit next month dedicated to fighting terrorism, EU diplomatic sources said.
Against this backdrop, they will also look at the situation in Libya -- "a semi-forgotten crisis which has got even worse," according to one EU diplomat.
The European Union on Saturday welcomed an accord between Libya's warring factions to work toward a unity government but warned there was still a "long way to go" to bring peace to a country on the brink of collapse.
The main agenda item Monday -- a review of relations with Russia -- could be problematic and a potential minefield for EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.
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