Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs, Wednesday 22 April

Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee, T.D., will join her EU Ministerial colleagues today, by videoconference, for a meeting of Ministers for European Affairs.

Ministers will focus on the EU and Member State responses to the COVID-19 crisis, sharing experiences and best practices among EU Member States, including the need to ensure that any measures respect fundamental rights and the rule of law. Ministers will also consider the need for close coordination of Member States’ efforts in planning a common recovery path for emerging from the crisis.

Ahead of the meeting, Minister McEntee said:

"No nation can successfully address the scale of the COVID-19 crisis alone. That is why Ireland remains appreciative for the solidarity and support which has been demonstrated by all EU Institutions and Member States.

"All Europeans are affected and European Solidarity has never been more important in helping us to overcome these difficult times as we look to ease containment measures and emerge from this crisis together.

"In this spirit, the EU has taken unprecedented measures to address the health and socio-economic effects of the crisis. These include an unprecedented package of economic and financial assistance totalling more than €540 billion which will be formally endorsed by leaders at the European Council videoconference on Thursday.

"The EU will continue to play a vital role as we work to devise measures that will be needed to ensure the economic recovery. I will be urging the need for continued close coordination as regards lifting of exceptional national measures, for solidarity and for safeguarding those elements, such as the promotion of the Single Market, which has been fundamental to Europe’s prosperity. I will equally make it clear that we need to jointly uphold our European principles and values as we work to overcome this crisis."

ENDS