Statement by Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD on the occasion of the first EU-UK Summit

“At today’s inaugural EU-UK Summit, the United Kingdom and the European Union have launched an ambitious programme of future cooperation across a range of areas, marking a major vote of confidence in our relationship with our closest neighbours.

“The truly significant deal announced today will bring real benefits to people and businesses across our continent and across the island of Ireland. It is a forward-looking set of commitments on supporting people-to-people contacts, boosting our prosperity, cooperating on security and defence, internal security, and irregular migration.

“The commitment to extend the current reciprocal access for EU and UK vessels to fish in each other’s waters is welcome, as is the commitment towards the negotiation of an SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) Agreement.

“A broad-based agreement of this kind would bring significant benefits for Northern Ireland business and consumers, and for the efficient operation of the Windsor Framework. On other areas like electricity and emissions trading systems, both sides are committed to working more closely with each other to the benefit of consumers, our energy security and our environmental goals.

“I want to warmly welcome the Summit outcomes and to acknowledge the work of European Commission and UK Government in preparing the summit.

“Of course, the foundation of the EU-UK relationship remains the implementation of the UK’s existing agreements with the EU, the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Today’s Summit builds upon those secure foundations.

I am confident that this Summit will mark the beginning of a fruitful period of partnership and cooperation.”