Written answers

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

EU Meetings

Photo of Lisa ChambersLisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next EU Foreign Affairs Council will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2797/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting is due to take place on Monday 6th February in Brussels. I will attend the meeting. I expected that Egypt, Libya and Ukraine will be discussed. Libya was last on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council in April 2016. It has been over a year since the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement and the February FAC presents an opportunity to reassess the situation, in particular the status of the political transition. A viable political solution remains the only way forward for the Libyan people and Ireland continues to support the formation of a functioning government.

Ministers will discuss the situation in Egypt and EU-Egyptian relations at the Council meeting. This will be the first opportunity in three years for such a discussion. The discussion will cover a wide range of issues of concern, including human rights, regional stability, terrorism and economic developments.

The discussion on Ukraine will be a good opportunity to review overall relations with a key neighbouring country. There is likely to be a particular focus on progress in the implementation of Ukraine’s political and economic reform programme.

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