Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report the discussion on EU-UK relations that took place at the EU General Affairs Council meeting which he attended in Brussels on 18 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15341/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, attended the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 18 March, where Ministers had an exchange of views on EU-UK relations ahead of the first EU-UK summit, which is scheduled to take place on 19 May.

Ministers received a briefing on the state of play in EU-UK relations from Commissioner Šefčovič. Discussion focused on areas where relations with the UK could be strengthened and on the best approach to collectively protect EU’s interests.

At the meeting, Minister Byrne welcomed the upcoming summit as an important opportunity to deepen EU-UK cooperation, including on fisheries and energy. This is a key relationship for Ireland and we very much welcome the ambition of both the EU and the UK to strengthen and deepen cooperation. The UK remains an important likeminded partner for the EU in the face of shared global challenges.