Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----key in terms of digitalisation and the challenges we are facing now as part of the European Union. Latin America and the Caribbean will absolutely be central to fostering stronger relationships across the whole digitalisation area. That is one of the key areas that is up for discussion at the summit in July, along with security issues, sustainability and climate. It is important that we strengthen those relationships with that area.

One key thing I saw when I was in the UN in February when we had a motion trying to again resolve a huge determination against the aggression shown by the Russian Federation against Ukraine was that we need to be careful in how we engage with other countries. Priority can be lost regarding the issues that pertain to those Latin American and Caribbean states and we need to ensure they do not wane with respect to the resolution for that Russian aggression. If we do not step up our engagement as the EU with areas like Latin America and the Caribbean, others will fill that void. That is why this agreement is important.