Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

213. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to visit Greece before the end of 2025 to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation ahead of Ireland's EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61812/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Greece. There have been many positive developments during the past half-century of working closely together in the bilateral and multilateral fields. Today, Ireland and Greece share a rich bilateral relationship marked by strong economic ties, our unique cultural heritages and the close relations between our two peoples through our active diaspora communities and growing tourism links.

In April of this year, the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence visited Greece where he held bilateral meetings with his counterpart, the Deputy Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, and with the Minister for Defence. He also held a number of meetings with his Western Balkans counterparts, and participated in the Delphic Economic Forum at which sustainable and competitive growth for the EU and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region was discussed.

Our shared membership of the European Union is a very important dimension of our relationship. Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, which begins on 1 July 2026, will form the first part of an eighteen-month “Trio Presidency” also involving Lithuania and Greece. Membership of the trio will allow the three countries to work together on a joint work program, ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda and legislative processes across our presidencies.

We are already collaborating closely with Greece at political and official level in setting the long-term goals and the common agenda to be addressed by the Council of the European Union over an 18-month period beginning on 1 July 2026. While I do not plan to visit Greece before the end of this year, I have no doubt that the ongoing cooperation on our Trio Presidency will contribute to further strengthening the already strong bilateral relations between our two countries, and I look forward to working with my Greek counterparts in this regard in the period ahead.