Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

469. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36786/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I attended the most recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday 17 July. North Korea, Libya, the implementation of the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy were on the agenda. Ministers discussed migration and the Central Mediterranean Route over a working lunch.

The continuing deterioration on the Korean peninsula is deeply worrying. The Council had an exchange of views on the situation and adopted conclusions. Ireland is fully supportive of the international sanctions regime against North Korea given its continued disregard for its international obligations.

My EU counterparts and I also had a discussion on Libya. High Representative Mogherini emphasized the need for a political solution. Ministers heard first-hand about some of the very difficult conditions facing migrants in Libya. I informed the Council of the Government’s approval for the participation of the Defence Forces in EUNAVFOR Operation Sophia in the Central Mediterranean, an indication of Ireland’s sincere commitment to the EU’s continuing efforts to find a satisfactory solution to the migrant crisis.

The Council discussed the EU Global Strategy and priorities for the coming year. The strategy underpins the EU’s contribution to international peace and security and I welcome particularly the focus on EU support for global governance and multilateralism.

In the margins of the Council, I had bilateral meetings with my Belgian, Spanish and UK counterparts to discuss Ireland’s priority issues in relation to Brexit, in particular with regard to Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area, the economy and the future of the EU. I also had a bilateral meeting with the High Representative, Federica Mogherini, during which we discussed migration, EU-Africa relations and my recent visit to Israel and Palestine.