Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 34, inclusive, together.

I attended the meeting of the European Political Community, EPC, in Chișinău, Moldova on 31 May and 1 June. The EPC is an informal forum which brings together leaders from across the continent of Europe to discuss issues of shared concern. It first met in Prague last October and will meet again in October of this year in Granada, Spain, during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Nearly 50 leaders participated, including from 27 EU member states, EU candidate countries in the western Balkans and most of our eastern European neighbours, including the President of Ukraine, but excluding Belarus; as well as our own closer neighbours such as Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom. The presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament and the European Council also participated. The broad and open EPC format provides a valuable opportunity to hear the perspectives of the wider European family and to explore synergies on pressing issues such as energy, connectivity and security.

The summit was the largest event of its nature ever held in Moldova. I commend the Moldovan Government on its excellent organisation. The decision to hold the summit in Chișinău was in part to send a signal to Moscow of the strength and breadth of solidarity with Moldova in the face of Russia’s relentless bullying tactics aimed at undermining its democracy and sovereignty and to show respect to Moldova for the support it has offered its neighbour, Ukraine.

During the summit, I participated in a round table on energy and connectivity co-chaired by the prime ministers of Belgium and Norway. We have all learned in the past year that the only way to guarantee price stability and security of supply will be to accelerate the transition to green and renewable sources of energy, and that in doing so regional and continental co-operation is essential.

I had a bilateral meeting with the President of Montenegro. I congratulated him on his election as President and reaffirmed Ireland’s strong endorsement of Montenegro’s EU ambition.

On the margins of the summit, I met with the Prime Minister of Moldova, the President of Kosovo and other leaders in attendance, including Prime Minister Sunak.

See this speech in context