Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I attended a meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 21 October, and Friday, 22 October, in Brussels. The meeting had a very full agenda, touching on some of the most pressing issues facing the Union. We discussed Covid-19, with a particular focus on vaccination rates across the European Union, in the context of rising infection rates in some member states and tackling disinformation on the pandemic. We also discussed the importance of the global roll-out of vaccines and the central role of the World Health Organization in global health governance. We discussed energy prices and what we can do individually as member states, and collectively as the European Union, to mitigate the impact of recent price fluctuations on vulnerable citizens and businesses. We also considered medium- and long-term measures to increase the European Union's energy resilience and green transition. We also discussed digital issues, including ongoing progress on the digital services Act and digital markets Act, ahead of the publication of a European chips Act planned by the Commission. We discussed trade, including its coherence with the overall international perspective of the EU, and, of course, critically, the importance of trade to global economic recovery. We discussed migration, including ongoing work to support countries of origin and transit. We called on Turkey to implement fully the European Union-Turkey Statement of 2016, including vis-à-visthe Republic of Cyprus. We also discussed a new issue of enormous concern, namely, the instrumentalisation of vulnerable migrants by the Lukashenko regime in Belarus. We agreed conclusions on a number of important summits, including COP15 and COP26, which I attended in Glasgow over the past two days; the Asia Europe summit, which I will participate in when it will be held virtually on 25 and 26 November; and the European Union-Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Brussels on 15 December. We also had a frank discussion on the rule of law in the European Union. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, will address the discussion of migration in his concluding remarks this afternoon. I will address all other items.

Prior to the formal European Council meeting, I met with my counterparts from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden for a useful and constructive exchange of views. This Nordic-Baltic+1 format is a valuable addition to Ireland's European engagement, allowing us to discuss topical issues with like-minded partners.

Sadly, Covid-19 continues to be both a significant concern within the European Union and a global challenge. At our meeting last week, a number of European Union leaders reported rising infection rates in their member states. Our first focus was on vaccination rates across the European Union, including tackling disinformation and efforts to overcome vaccine hesitancy. We need to challenge disinformation and remain vigilant against this deadly disease, which continues to circulate in our communities. We agreed to further co-ordination on free movement and travel, preparedness for future health emergencies, the global roll-out of vaccines, and the European Union support for the World Health Organization.

Very significant progress has been made in tackling the pandemic, with safe and effective vaccines providing the means to protect ourselves from Covid 19. The decision of the European Union and its member states to join together to support the development and the procurement of vaccines has been remarkably successful. Well over 800 million doses have already been delivered across European Union. I am pleased to inform the House that Ireland now has the highest level of full vaccination among adults in the European Union, with more than 93% of adults having now received their first vaccine dose, and more than 92% fully vaccinated against the disease. Vaccination has been extended to children aged 12 years and older, with 71% of eligible children having now received a vaccine dose and 67% fully vaccinated. This is a remarkable national achievement.

We cannot take our eye off the ball. I encourage those who have not yet availed of vaccination and for whom it is deemed clinically safe, to come forward for vaccination at the earliest opportunity. In doing so you will help to protect yourself, your loved ones and the wider community this winter. At the European Council we also discussed our approach to vaccine booster doses and vaccine sharing. The pandemic is a global challenge. Ireland is committed to the universal and fair access to Covid-19 vaccines and treatments. The European Union is the largest exporter of Covid-19 vaccines to the world. We need now to work together to increase global vaccine production capacity, as well as supply, to meet global needs.

We had a serious discussion on energy prices as across Europe we look ahead to the winter months. Higher demand, as the global economy recovers, and tighter gas supply have contributed to sharp rises in energy prices. This issue has given rise to concern here in Ireland and right across the European Union. I am acutely aware of the negative impacts of significant energy price rises on citizens and businesses. This is manifesting itself in different ways across the Union. EU leaders welcomed the Commission toolbox presented prior to our meeting. We invited the Commission to study both the functioning of the gas and electricity markets with the help of European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, ACER, as well as the EU emissions trading system, ETS, market with the help of the European Securities and Markets Authority, ESMA. The Commission will also assess whether certain trading behaviours require further regulatory action. This study will provide an evidence base for further next steps.

We also called on the European Investment Bank to examine how to speed up investment in the energy transition. Our focus in the short term is on actions member states can take to protect those most vulnerable to the effects of energy price increases. In budget 2022, we introduced a range of measures to support households through higher welfare payments, to increase and expand the scope of the fuel allowance, and to improve energy efficiency. Leaders also tasked the energy ministers, who met last week, to examine further work on this pressing area of concern. Ultimately, increasing our supply of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency are the best ways to ensure security of supply, tackle energy poverty, and protect people from the impact of high energy costs.

The European Council also took stock of progress on digital issues and set further important political orientations for the ambitious legislative agenda being advanced by President von der Leyen to make Europe fit for the digital age. As I indicated to the House last week, key elements here include broad support for the Commission's digital compass and digital decade proposals, including setting high levels of ambition for skills development, digital connectivity, and responsive public services; unlocking the full potential of our Single Market, including in services, and making it as easy as possible for our SMEs to scale their businesses across Europe's borders and beyond; promoting a cutting-edge European microchip ecosystem through stronger research and innovation policies; continuing to ensure high levels of protection for personal privacy, while providing strong new protections against illegal and harmful digital content; further upgrading our collective capabilities and toolboxes in responding effectively to growing cyber threats, including to democratic values; and providing strong leadership and strategic direction in the development of global standards for fast-evolving applications in the field of artificial intelligence, working closely with like-minded global partners.

I welcome these conclusions as continuing to strike the right balance on shaping Europe's future in a direction that remains open, competitive and innovation friendly. They are consistent with my own view that setting the right strategic orientations for positive digital transformation must be seen as an essential basis for the EU's future dynamism and strength.

We had a useful strategic discussion on trade, following on from our discussions earlier this month in Slovenia on the international role of the EU. I supported an open approach, underpinned by an international rules-based order. During the discussion, I underlined my view that agreements are about more than reducing barriers. They are also about raising standards around the world, whether in the field of human rights or environmental standards. The reality is we share the world with powers that do not always share these values. We must strive to make our collective interdependence fair and safe. It makes sense, therefore, to encourage global partners to be on the same high and broad level playing field in terms of environmental standards and human rights.

I look forward to the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting summit on 25 and 26 November. It will be an important opportunity to discuss economic recovery in partnership with our Asian counterparts.Before the European Council meets again in December, we will also meet at the eastern partnership summit. Again, it is crucial that agreed European Union values underpin all of our engagements. It is not an either-or situation. We can strive for both economic development and the good governance, human rights, and rule of law improvements that will benefit societies in partner countries.

We also discussed rule of law within the European Union.Ireland has consistently supported the development of a more comprehensive range of tools by the European Commission to ensure member states adhere to their obligations. We have consistently expressed the view the budget conditionality regulation is fair, proportionate and serves a legitimate, important purpose. As such, we recently intervened, along with several other member states, to oppose an action to annul the regulation brought by Poland and Hungary. Judgment on this case is now awaited. There are important principles at stake. I believe shared membership of the EU means that, as close partners, we need to be able to raise concerns and questions with each other in a constructive and open way where there are challenges.All member states have signed up to the same treaty obligations and there is an onus on all of us to comply with the determinations of the Court of Justice of the European Union. EU membership means all member states accept the primacy of EU law where it applies.

The existence and prosperity of our Single Market and the upholding of our common values, particularly rule of law, are both predicated on respect for this core principle. As such, I am very concerned by the recent ruling from the Polish Constitutional Tribunal that aspects of Articles 1 and 19 of the Treaty on European Union are incompatible with the Polish Constitution. This is the latest development of concern with respect to Poland, including as regards judicial independence. At the European Council last week, Prime Minister Morawiecki set out the key elements in his view of the Polish approach. I do not agree with all of his views and I made that clear at our meeting. I support the Commission approach as guardian of the treaties. There is much to be gained potentially from member states continuing to engage in dialogue. It is in the collective interest of the Union to resolve this issue.

The October European Council was also an opportunity to bid farewell to leaders from Sweden and from Germany. The meeting was my Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfven's last one. He has been a strong and constructive leader at the European Council on issues such as innovation, openness and human rights. He has an especially strong empathy with Ireland from his former days as a trade union leader when he had good collaboration and engagement with trade union leaders in Ireland. I wish him well and look forward most sincerely to continued partnership with his successor, including as part of Ireland's Nordic strategy.

I was pleased to receive German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a courtesy call as part of his state visit to Ireland last week.

German-Irish relations continue to grow closer all the time and our governments share a joint plan of action for enhanced bilateral and EU co-operation. There can be no doubt that Chancellor Merkel's departure from the European Council marks the end of an era. She participated in the European Council for a truly remarkable 16 years. During that period, she played a significant role in helping the European Union collectively to weather many storms and crises. She has truly carried on the European legacy of Konrad Adenauer as a pragmatic unifier.

The European Council will continue to strive for this combination of strategy and pragmatism to preserve our most powerful asset, our unity. Leaders will next meet at the European Council in December, when we will return to our discussion on Covid-19. We will also discuss the EU's resilience and its crisis response capability, learning from our experiences. We will discuss EU relations with Africa, including the EU–African Union summit planned for February. I will report to the House in advance of discussions.

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