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

I will participate in the June meeting of the European Council in Brussels tomorrow and Friday. The agenda will cover Ukraine, economic issues, security and defence, migration, and external relations. In his remarks later, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will deal with external relations issues other than Ukraine and China.

At our meeting, Heads of State and Government will discuss the latest situation in Ukraine, including the consequences of the reckless destruction of the Kakhovka dam which has created a very serious humanitarian and ecological crisis. Leanfaimid ar aghaidh ag tabhairt tacaíocht don Úcráin chomh fada is a thógann sé. Tá an tAontas Eorpach fós tiomanta an cúnamh daonnúil, polaitiúil, eacnamaíoch, airgeadais agus míleata a theastaíonn uaithi a sholáthar don Úcráin. We will condemn the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus. This is a shocking abuse of human rights and international law. It cannot be allowed to stand. We will take stock of efforts to establish a tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression so that those responsible for the war and its consequences can be held to account. We will also ask for work on the use of frozen Russian assets to assist the reconstruction of Ukraine to be taken forward. It is welcome that agreement has been reached on the 11th package of sanctions. This will help to increase pressure on Russia, weakening its ability to prosecute the war. It will also help us to target those in third countries who are helping Russia evade trade restrictions.

Ireland continues to support Ukraine’s application for membership of the EU, as well as the applications from Moldova and Georgia. The European Commission’s recent update on Ukraine’s efforts towards EU accession shows that good progress has been made, and this is very welcome. Ukraine’s future is in the European Union and I would like accession to proceed as quickly as possible. We will also consider how to ensure our financial assistance for Ukraine’s Government is put on a firmer footing. The Tánaiste's participation in the Ukraine recovery conference in London last week was an opportunity to discuss with international partners how to ensure a successful and effective reconstruction effort. In the context of our discussion on Ukraine, leaders may also reflect on the implications for Ukraine of developments in Russia at the weekend.

The June European Council will take stock of the current economic situation. The European Commission’s most recent economic forecasts on 15 May are for aggregate gross domestic product, GDP, growth in the European Union of 1% this year and 1.7% next year. Inflation remains a concern, and at its most recent governing council meeting on 15 June, the European Central Bank, ECB, decided to raise the three main interest rates by a further 25 basis points or 0.25%. The ECB expects euro area headline inflation to continue to fall to an average of 3% next year and 2.2% the year after.

While the global economy has begun to strengthen, there is continuing uncertainty about the evolution of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its global impact. In its most recent economic outlook earlier this month, the OECD highlighted the importance of prioritising structural reforms to boost productivity by promoting competition and reviving investment while securing the green and digital transformations of our economies. Our June meeting will include the endorsement of the country-specific recommendations as part of the annual European semester process which helps to co-ordinate member states' economic, employment and fiscal policies.

The OECD emphasis also aligns well with the discussion leaders will have about strengthening the Single Market and Europe’s long-term competitiveness. As we mark its 30th anniversary this year, we want to see the EU continue to prioritise an open and ambitious approach to strengthening the Single Market. This includes the aims of leading the world in new technologies underpinning the green transition while shaping global standards with like-minded partners. I will encourage further work in this area, including that of a Belgian initiative calling for an independent high-level report on the future of the Single Market to be completed in time for its Presidency of the Council in the first half of next year.

Leaders will also invite the Council to take forward work on the proposed revision of the Union's multi-annual financial framework, MFF. The European Commission presented proposals on 20 June for a targeted revision of the EU budget to reinforce a limited number of priority areas. A significant portion of this additional spending relates to helping Ukraine in multi-annual terms, aligned with the current EU budget which runs to 2027. Other areas covered in the Commission’s proposal include external action and migration, a platform to promote competitiveness on critical technologies, and managing increased interest rates and administrative costs. Changes are not being proposed to agriculture or Cohesion funding. The Government will now examine these proposals carefully and in full. Leaders will have an initial discussion this week but will not take any decisions on the way forward, at least not next week.

Leaders will also discuss economic security issues against the backdrop of the evolving geopolitical situation, which has become less stable, less predictable, and less safe. Exchanges will be informed by the recent joint communication on a European economic security strategy produced by the European Commission and the High Representative. The strategy is focused on promoting the EU’s competitiveness, enhancing our protection from risks, and reinforcing the Union’s partnerships with reliable partners. Four categories of risks have been identified. These are risks to supply chains, to critical infrastructure, to technology security and leakage, and the risk of economic coercion. The joint communication is a good starting point for our discussions towards a stronger shared understanding of our economic interdependencies. Ireland will continue to engage constructively with this agenda, aiming to preserve maximum levels of economic openness and dynamism. This includes building on the progress we are already making in Europe through our trade and technology councils with the United States and India. Our commitment to open and rules-based multilateralism is fundamental to the democratic ideal that unites us.

Leaders will also have a strategic discussion on relations with China which will be informed by our discussions on economic issues and prospects. It is important the EU retains a consistent and united approach to its relations with China. We need to continue to work with China on important global challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. We will continue to be major trade and economic partners but we need to rebalance our trade and economic relationship, ensuring a level playing field. We also need to reduce critical dependencies and vulnerabilities in supply chains. We also need to be clear about the EU’s commitment to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and our concerns regarding forced labour, the treatment of human rights defenders and minorities. We also remain concerned about the situation in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.

On security and defence, the European Council will take stock of the progress on implementing our previous conclusions and the strategic compass, including in the areas of cyber, hybrid, maritime and space. We will also ask for work to be taken forward on the proposal relating to joint procurement of military equipment and on increasing the capability and resilience of Europe’s defence sector.

We will also have an exchange of views on EU-NATO co-operation with NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, at the start of our discussions on Thursday. Ahead of this week, I have joined nine other leaders in writing to President Michel and President von der Leyen, calling for a strengthening of the EU’s civil protection mechanism to ensure we can better respond to natural and human-made disasters in a coherent and collective way.

Our discussions on migration will take place in the wake of the sad loss of life in the Mediterranean. Migration is a shared challenge and opportunity that requires an EU response. The recent agreement among justice ministers on the main elements of an asylum and migration pact is welcome. When in force, this will establish a common procedure for processing international protection requests, mandatory border procedures and a new flexible solidarity mechanism. The measures have to be finalised and adopted at EU level, but this agreement is a significant development. It is clear we need a comprehensive approach dealing with all aspects of the migration challenge - at the EU’s borders, within the EU and with countries of origin and transit outside the EU. This must be done in a way that is consistent with human rights and international law. Ireland will continue to work with our EU partners to ensure humanitarian and international legal obligations are upheld and the protection of life and safety at sea remains paramount. We will join in condemning the human traffickers and smugglers who are responsible for these deaths, as well as those who facilitate them.

In his remarks, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will deal with the forthcoming EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit, the situation in Serbia and Kosovo, EU relations with Tunisia, and the situation in Cyprus. I look forward to updating the House again a few weeks after the meeting.

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