Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attending European Council meeting
- Published on: 21 March 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
- Taoiseach to update colleagues on recent meetings with President Biden
- focus on Middle East, Ukraine, migration and agriculture
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in Brussels today (Thursday) for a two-day meeting of the European Council on Ukraine, the Middle East, the killing of Alexei Navalny, other external, security and defence issues, and migration.
The Taoiseach will update colleagues on his recent meetings with President Biden and other senior US figures.
Discussions will also focus on agriculture, the situation in Belarus, EU enlargement, and the European Semester.
The two-day meeting starts with a working lunch with UN Secretary General Guterres, while on Friday the Taoiseach and other leaders will attend a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the European Economic Area, which allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to be part of the EU Single Market. The final session will comprise a Euro summit on economic issues.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach said:
“This is a packed European Council dealing with some of the most important issues in the world today like Ukraine and Gaza. I will update colleagues on my recent meetings with President Biden and other senior US figures.
“We need a strong, united EU voice on the crisis in the Middle East. I will repeat Ireland’s message that the people of Gaza cannot be subject to collective punishment for the appalling crimes of Hamas, and call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and a massive increase in aid.
“Israel must not launch a ground offensive in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians have fled for safety. Recent initiatives to get more aid into Gaza by sea and by air are essential, but it’s vital that more aid is allowed into Gaza by road to end the looming famine. And aside from an immediate ceasefire, the best chance we have for peace and justice is if the US and Europe lead a process towards a two-State solution resulting in a Palestinian State. I will also thank UN Secretary General Guterres for the vital role that UN agencies are playing in the Middle East, and express strong backing for the UN’s relief agency, UNWRA.
“The European Council will also re-state our unwavering support for Ukraine and its brave people for as long as it takes. Russia’s imperial war is existential for Ukraine and fundamental for European and global security. We know that Putin potentially threatens the EU's borders, especially if he is successful in Ukraine.
“There will also be an important discussion on measures for farmers, and I will attend a Euro summit on completing the Capital Markets Union, which is vital for Europe’s competitiveness.”