Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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245. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the European Council on 20-21 March 2025. [22210/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I attended the European Council meeting on Thursday 20 March where leaders discussed Ukraine and European Defence and Security.

Other topics discussed were the Middle East, competitiveness, the next multi-annual financial framework (MFF) and new own resources, migration, oceans, multilateralism and the Western Balkans.

Leaders were joined by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a working lunch and a Euro Summit took place on the margins of the meeting.

Leaders were also joined via video conference call by President Zelenskyy for an exchange of views on Ukraine.

The European Council called on Russia to show real political will to end the war and stated that a credible pathway to peace must include humanitarian relief efforts including prisoner exchange, release of civilians and the return of Ukrainian children unlawfully deported to Russia and Belarus. It called for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter.

Continuing their discussion on European defence and security from the 6 March Special European Council, and in light of the publication of the Commission’s White Paper on the Future of European Defence, leaders called for the ramping up of Europe’s defence readiness within the next 5 years.

On the Middle East, leaders took stock of the latest developments and deplored the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages. Leaders called for the immediate return to full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage agreement.

On Syria, leaders condemned the widespread violence against civilians stressing the importance of a peaceful and inclusive transition. Leaders welcomed the end of the political impasse in Lebanon.

Leaders discussed competitiveness and welcomed the competitiveness compass, the clean industrial act and the omnibus simplification packages presented by the Commission.

On the multi-annual financial framework, leaders exchanged views on the next iteration of the EU’s long-term budget.

Leaders also discussed migration, the proposal of a European Oceans Pact and multilateralism.