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

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and the Deputies for their statements. I will focus my remarks on the EU Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC, Kosovo, Tunisia and Cyprus.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC, is a regional organisation with 33 member states. The EU-CELAC summit is planned for 17 and 18 July and will be the first meeting at leaders level of the EU Spanish presidency. The EU is currently aiming to significantly increase our engagement with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean region. They are like-minded on so many issues and are important trading partners. To this end, the EU introduced Road 2023, which is a plan for delivering a qualitative leap in relations across a range of areas.

Activities under the plan include an intensified roll-out of global gateway initiatives to the region as well as increased political engagement and progress on outstanding trade agreements. The four key themes identified for the summit include: confronting climate change - towards a fair and sustainable transition; fair and inclusive digital transformation; bridging the gap - trade, sustainable development and economic recovery in a post-pandemic period; and citizen security, social justice and fighting transnational organised crime.

Violence and increased tension in northern Kosovo are very worrying. Attacks on KFOR, on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX, patrols and on the press are deplorable. KFOR and EULEX must be allowed to implement their mandates peacefully. As EU Special Representative Lajčák said, the municipal elections in April may have been legal but they were not legitimate. Pristina must facilitate fresh elections immediately as a concrete step to show that Kosovo remains committed in its dialogue with Serbia and to its EU perspective. Belgrade should do more to ensure participation of the Kosovo-Serb communities in fresh elections and to approach the dialogue with Kosovo in good faith. Normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo is vital as they move towards EU membership and to ensure stability and prosperity across the western Balkans region. The Taoiseach met with the Serbian Prime Minister in April and underlined Ireland's support for a European perspective in the western Balkans.

In addition to the western Balkans, our European neighbourhood also includes important partners in north Africa, such as Tunisia, with which a comprehensive partnership package is proposed. The proposal sets out key pillars, including macro-financial assistance of up to €900 million and an option for the EU to provide a new budget support of up to €150 million. There are plans for increased partnership between the EU and Tunisia in economic development and trade as well as green energy and people-to-people issues, including training support via issuance.

On migration, the draft package offers €105 million. A joint EU-Tunisia statement of 11 June notes that the fight against irregular migration to and from Tunisia and prevention of loss of life at sea are common priorities. I welcome the package but believe we could go further, with a focus on democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are important in themselves as well as for stability and investment.

Ireland supports the efforts of the European Union to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem in accordance with relevant EU resolutions. Following the recent elections in both Cyprus and Türkiye, there is now a window of opportunity to resume negotiations under an EU-led process. I recognise the importance Cyprus attaches to this issue and we were pleased to welcome the president of the Cyprus House of Representatives to Ireland recently. We are strongly supportive and facilitate the resumption of negotiations.

I again thank Members for their participation in the debate. The Taoiseach will report to the House following this week's European Council meeting.

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