Taoiseach Simon Harris attending European Political Community

• Taoiseach to join fellow Leaders from across Europe for a meeting of European Political Community to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine and wider European security as well as ways to secure and defend our democracies.

Taoiseach Simon Harris is in Blenheim in the UK today (Thursday) for a meeting of the European Political Community hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The European Political Community gathers leaders of the wider European community twice a year to consider issues which are of interest to them all. At Thursday’s meeting, the Taoiseach will participate in a roundtable discussion on securing and defending democracy. He will also have a number of bilateral meetings in the margins of the meeting.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach said:

“I am looking forward to joining my fellow leaders from across Europe at the European Political Community. The meeting will be a very useful opportunity for me to meet those colleagues not in the EU, including from the Western Balkans and the Caucasus, together with my EU colleagues to discuss the challenges that face us all and to hear their views on how we should respond. Our response to the grave Russian threat to our values and our way of life and our ongoing steadfast support for Ukraine will be a particular focus.

“In this super year of elections, I am also looking forward to taking part in a roundtable discussion on defending and securing democracy. I will advocate for a multi-stakeholder approach to combatting disinformation and foreign interference, which is threatening to undermine our electoral processes, and for greater support for international organisations, including the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe, who are working hard to protect and promote the fundamental values that are the bedrock of our vibrant democracies.”

ENDS