Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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EU-Singapore ties were not on the agenda at the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

I welcome the deepening of EU relations bilaterally with Singapore and through the strengthening of relations with ASEAN regionally. In December last, 2020, I participated in the 23rd ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers Meeting where the EU-ASEAN relationship was upgraded to the level of strategic partnership.

This provides opportunities for increased cooperation in the areas of economy, security, sustainable connectivity and sustainable development including climate action. The Strategic partnership also provides renewed support for the negotiation of an EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement

The EU  has also agreed a Free Trade Agreement with Singapore, which entered into effect on 21 November 2019. This agreement offers good opportunities to Irish and European companies businesses in the region to trade more easily and to lower the costs of doing business. 

Singapore, in particular, is a major trading partner for Ireland in Asia Pacific. Trade in goods and services with Ireland in 2019 was more than €10bn. This highlights the importance of Singapore as a destination for Irish business.