Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2021
72. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his attendance at the recent General Affairs Council of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended the most recent meeting of the General Affairs Council which took place on 19 October 2021 in Luxembourg.
The principal item for discussion at the Council was the preparation of the agenda for the European Council meeting, which took place on the 21st and 22nd of October. At that meeting, Leaders discussed energy prices and migration. There were also discussions on the Covid-19 pandemic, digital issues including the 2030 Digital Compass and trade. In addition, the European Council prepared for the ASEM summit on 25/26 November and the Eastern Partnership summit on 15 December, as well as taking stock of preparations for the upcoming meetings of COP26 on climate change and of COP15 on biological diversity.
There was also an exchange of views at the Council on the annual rule of law dialogue. In my remarks on this important agenda item, I reiterated that the rule of law is a fundamental principle for all EU Member States and that it is of vital importance that the rule of law is preserved, protected, and promoted across the Union.
The General Affairs Council also discussed the Conference on the Future of Europe, in advance of the second Conference Plenary session which took place in Strasbourg on 23 October. At the Council, I briefed my Ministerial colleagues on our own national programme of events to date and discussed how we can promote greater public engagement with the Conference in the coming months.
Under Any Other Business, Ministers received an update from the Slovenian Presidency on the outcome of the international conference “Illusive Reconciliation: Transitional Processes in Central and Eastern Europe in a Comparative Perspective”, which was held on 23 August in Ljubljana.
Question Nos. 73 to 79, inclusive, answered orally.
