Tánaiste to attend Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, will take part in a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Monday 11 December.
The Council’s discussions will be focused on the EU’s support for Ukraine and its response to the situation in Gaza. The discussion on Ukraine will consider EU options for further support, including financial and security assistance, as well as further sanctions against Russia and Ukraine’s EU membership perspective.
During the discussion on Gaza, the Tánaiste will reiterate the urgent need to intensify calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The Tánaiste will also underline the need for EU language to evolve on the basis of developments on the ground.
Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council, the Tánaiste said:
“It is of vital importance that the EU calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. What the people of Gaza are going through is horrifying. There is no justification for the continuing bombardment and the killing of innocent men, women and children. The UN Secretary General’s invocation of Article 99 should be a call to action for the international community.
"The situation we are seeing on the ground demands our reaction and we should respond to what we are seeing also in the West Bank, and progress EU sanctions against violent settlers.”
On Ukraine the Tánaiste said:
“Today I will stress the importance that Ireland attaches to the EU reaffirming its support to Ukraine this week and will call on our fellow EU Member States to demonstrate continued unity and resolute commitment in the face of Russian aggression, when considering the key decisions in front of us, both in relation to Ukraine’s accession path and financial support.
"Ireland’s position remains that EU membership is the ultimate security guarantee that can be provided to Ukraine and it has made tremendous progress under extremely difficult circumstances.”