merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., will be in Luxembourg on Tuesday for meetings with their counterparts on Brexit and the General Affairs Council. The meetings will prepare the European Council meeting for the 17^th and 18^th October.

Brexit

Both ministers will attend the General Affairs Council (Article 50) meeting on the UK’s exit from the EU. Speaking on his departure to Luxembourg, the Tánaiste said:

This is a crucial week in the efforts to reach an agreement on an orderly Brexit. The EU is fully focused on finding solutions with the UK to avoid a No Deal Brexit at the end of October. Gaps remain but a deal is still possible.

Minister McEntee said:

The Tánaiste and I are looking forward to discussing Brexit issues with our ministerial colleagues in advance of the European Council. As ever, we will use the opportunity to express our appreciation to EU partners for their continued strong solidarity and support throughout this process.

General Affairs Council

The October European Council will also discuss the EU budget for the period 2021-27 (the multi-annual financial framework). Leaders will have their first exchange of views with the European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen on the EU’s priorities for the next five years. The meeting will also focus on climate change, ahead of the UN’s Climate Conference in Santiago de Chile in December (COP25).

Minister McEntee will discuss with her counterparts EU Enlargement and the Stabilisation and Association Process for Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia and Kosovo.  

Speaking in advance of the meeting, the Minister said:

The next EU budget, Climate Change, and implementing the EU’s strategic priorities are all matters of great concern for our citizens. We must advance our common efforts on these issues.

Ireland’s message on EU Enlargement is clear and consistent: we must maintain strong support for opening accession negotiations with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, in line with the European Commission’s recommendations in May. We must not close off paths to talks for those that are meeting our requirements.