Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach to provide an update following his attendance at the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and European Council. [42872/24]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach to provide an update following his attendance at the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and European Council. [44036/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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18. To ask the Taoiseach to provide an update following his attendance at the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and European Council. [45001/24]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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19. To ask the Taoiseach to provide an update following his attendance at the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and European Council. [45241/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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20. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with the incoming president of the European Council, António Costa. [45244/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 20, inclusive, together.

I attended a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 17 October. On 16 October, I participated in the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. The situation in the Middle East was high on the agenda in both meetings while Ukraine and migration featured heavily in the meeting of the European Council.

At the European Council, we also took stock of preparations for COP29 on Climate in Baku, Azerbaijan, and COP 16 on biological diversity in Cali, Colombia. We discussed a number of foreign policy issues including Georgia, Moldova, Sudan, Venezuela, Morocco, and Haiti as well as hybrid threats. Europe’s Competitiveness and energy prices were also addressed.

Leaders were joined by President Zelenskyy of Ukraine who presented his Victory Plan.

The European Council reaffirmed our continued support for Ukraine and its people, reiterating the importance of reaching a just and lasting peace.

On the Middle East, leaders expressed our deep concern on the recent military escalation and called on all parties to exercise restraint acknowledging the risks posed for the entire region. We affirmed our commitment to helping to deescalate the situation and reduce tensions while providing needs-based assistance to civilians.

On Lebanon, the European Council called for an immediate ceasefire and full implementation on UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which calls for the full cessation of hostilities.

The European Council condemned in the strongest terms the unacceptable attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against UNIFIL which must stop immediately.

The European Council again called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a hostage deal, and a surge in unhindered humanitarian assistance. I reiterated the need to use all levers at our disposal to bring about this, repeating my call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement which has only become more pressing in light of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion of July.

Leaders reiterated their unwavering support for a just and last peace based on a two-state solution.

Leaders had an in-depth discussion on migration in all its dimensions. The European Council called for work to be stepped up on external action and strengthening control of the EU's external border, on enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and transit to address root causes, fight trafficking and smuggling, and to prevent loss of life and irregular departures. Leaders also called for determined action to increase and speed up returns from the EU.

We also agreed that new ways to prevent and counter irregular migration should be considered. I emphasised that any potential new approaches would need to be effective, practical and in keeping with the EU’s values and EU and international law.

We also affirmed our solidarity with Poland, which is facing the instrumentalisation of migration by Russia and Belarus as a form of hybrid warfare aimed at destabilising society and undermining our values.

On 29 October, I welcomed the President-elect of the European Council, Antonio Costa, to Dublin in advance of him taking up his position on 1 December. I congratulated him again on his election and looked forward to working with him at what is a critical time for Europe as we face numerous and serious challenges. We discussed matters relating to the working methods of the European Council as well as the main items currently on the Council’s agenda including competitiveness, security and defence, the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), enlargement, Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. We also discussed EU-UK relations.