Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

As colleagues will know, I attended an informal European Council meeting on Monday, 17 June in Brussels that largely took place over a working dinner. At this meeting European leaders took stock of the outcome of the elections for the European Parliament, and we began discussions on the key positions in the European Union institutions. As the House will be aware, the EU institutions renew themselves every five years, with a newly elected Parliament and the appointment of a new College of Commissioners, including the President and a Vice President to serve as High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The latter also presides at the Foreign Affairs Council. A new President of the European Council is also appointed for a term of two and a half years, renewable once.

Europe is facing many challenges and great uncertainties. War is being waged on our continent as Russia continues its relentless, brutal aggression against Ukraine. The conflict in the Middle East is having a devastating humanitarian impact in Gaza and causing dangerous instability in the region. Climate change is also gravely damaging the health of our planet and impacting on people all around the world. At a time of such international uncertainty and geopolitical tension, it is important not only that the right people are appointed to these important roles, but that we also act as efficiently and decisively as we can.

I also attended a formal meeting of the European Council in Brussels last week on 27 and 28 June, when we continued our deliberations and reached agreement on how to proceed. Leaders decided to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the Commission; to appoint former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa as President of the European Council; and to nominate Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, as high representative and Vice President of the Commission.

The European Parliament will now play its role in the process. It will, of course, also decide on its own President. The Parliament will hold its first plenary meeting in mid-July, when it will elect its President, and I hope it will also on that occasion decide on the President of the Commission in terms of the vote that is required. The President of the Commission will then need to begin the task of assembling a new Commission, based on nominations submitted by member states.

Our Government has nominated Deputy Michael McGrath, who will bring great skill and experience to the task. I wish him well and support him fully. Following hearings in the Parliament, the Parliament will then vote on whether to approve the Commission as a whole.

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