Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council meeting in Brussels on 17 and 18 October 2019. [43852/19]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I attended the European Council in Brussels on Thursday 17 October and Friday 18 October.

On Thursday agreement was reached on the terms of a proposed revised Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK. The European Council agreed to endorse the revised Withdrawal Agreement which allows the UK to leave the EU in an orderly fashion.

The European Council also approved the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

We had a substantial exchange on enlargement in which we considered opening accession negotiations with both North Macedonia and Albania.

We discussed the Multiannual Financial Framework – the Union’s budget for the period 2021-28.

We held a discussion with the Commission President elect, Ursula von der Leyen on her priorities for the incoming European Commission.

We formally appointed Christine Lagarde as the new Governor of the European Central Bank.

On Climate Change, we welcomed the outcome of the UN Climate Action Summit. We will discuss the EU’s long-term strategy on Climate Change at our December EC.

We discussed the situation in Syria and adopted conclusions condemning the actions of Turkey.

We expressed our full solidarity with Cyprus in relation to illegal Turkish drilling in Cypriot waters.

We reiterated our full support for all efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability for the victims of MH17.

This was the final scheduled European Council for President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and we thanked them for their outstanding work over the past five years.