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Tánaiste in Brussels to attend Foreign Affairs Council, EU-ASEAN Ministerial and EU-African Union Ministerial

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D., is in Brussels today (21 January) to attend a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. Ministers will discuss disinformation, EU-League of Arab States, and EU-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). He will also attend Ministerial Meetings with ASEAN and the African Union.

Speaking in advance of today’s meetings, the Tánaiste said:

“My EU colleagues and I will have a discussion on disinformation, following the recent adoption of the EU Action Plan. We are committed to tackling systematic disinformation campaigns, and to securing free and fair European Parliamentary Elections in May.

EU Foreign Ministers will also discuss the upcoming EU-League of Arab States Summit, taking place next month in Egypt. This historic Summit will, for the first time, bring together Arab and EU leaders, facilitating greater dialogue on key issues affecting our two regions.

We will also have an exchange of views on deepening and broadening the EU-ASEAN relationship, ahead of the Ministerial Meeting later today. The EU and ASEAN share a strong commitment to multilateralism, the rules-based order and a free and fair trade system.

Finally, I look forward to attending the opening dinner of the EU-AU Ministerial and discussing with my African colleagues how to deepen our cooperation in peace and security, increase our trade links and join together in strengthening the multilateral system.”