I attended a meeting of the European Council on 19 March in Brussels. Once again, leaders dealt with a very full and important agenda against the backdrop of a very challenging and volatile international environment. The substantial items discussed included Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and European competitiveness. There was also a Euro Summit, which assessed the state of the European Union's economy. Other items on the agenda were European security and defence, migration, the Democracy Shield, multilateralism and child protection online. I will set out the main results of the European Council with regard to support for Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, multilateralism and European competitiveness. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will speak later to the other issues. I will begin with competitiveness, a crucial issue for Ireland and Europe and one that is now firmly at the top of the European Council agenda. Supercharging Europe's competitiveness will also be a main priority for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The March European Council took further decisive action on strengthening Europe's competitiveness and unlocking the full potential of its Single Market. Leaders established the highest level of ambition for a new One Europe, One market agenda to be implemented during the course of 2026 where possible, and by the end of 2027 at the latest. As I said, this comprehensive agenda of concrete measures with ambitious deadlines will also provide the key strategic focus for Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the European Union Council in the second half of the year. We will advance priority actions across five specific areas: deepening and integrating the Single Market; further simplifying rules and reducing regulatory and administrative burdens; accelerating decarbonisation while ensuring affordable energy; fostering industrial innovation and renewal in strategically important technology sectors; and mobilising necessary public and private investments. On the Single Market, priority measures will include a new 28th regime for company law, called EU Inc. This will make it easier to set up businesses across the EU, providing instant access to the Single Market. It will be digital-by-default to help innovative start-ups scale and grow. Work will also be undertaken to improve mutual recognition of professional qualifications and skills as well as addressing fragmented product labelling and packaging requirements. Leaders called for agreement this year on all omnibus simplification packages tabled by the Commission, including an ambitious AI omnibus to be presented by the end of July. This work will reduce administrative burdens for businesses. Leaders also called on the Commission to undertake an in-depth regulatory review of the current EU body of law, to eliminate outdated provisions, overlaps, and inconsistencies, while ensuring that all new initiatives are in line with simple-by-design principles and better regulation principles. Access to affordable energy is vital for our competitiveness. A key lesson of the past few weeks and the impact of the conflict in the Gulf is that Europe must become more self-reliant when it comes to energy and we must break our strategic dependence on imported fossil fuels. Europe must deliver the clean and abundant energy needed to power the economy of the future. Priority actions include agreement this year on the European grids package, including faster permitting procedures, to enable the injection of more renewable energy into the system. At the same time, targeted solutions are needed to protect our citizens and businesses from the recent and very significant spike in fuel prices. Leaders invited the Commission to present a set of temporary and targeted measures, taking into account the differing situations of member states, and the need to address the particular vulnerability of energy-intensive sectors, including reducing risk of relocation and protecting jobs. Consideration of these measures by leaders will continue at the informal meeting of the European Council, which I will attend in Cyprus from tomorrow. I have also written to President von der Leyen to set out the need for Ireland to retain the flexibility to introduce specific, temporary and targeted emergency measures to support the most affected sectors of our economy during this crisis. On industrial renewal and innovation, it is clear that the current geopolitical environment requires a new focus on strategically important investments in the technologies of tomorrow, reducing strategic vulnerabilities, while maintaining the deepest possible co-operation with like-minded global partners. Priority measures will include a mapping of dependencies in strategic sectors to be completed by the Commission this year, in co-operation with member states, as well as targeted and proportionate European preference in select strategic technologies. Leaders also called for agreement this year on the industrial accelerator Act proposals presented by the Commission last month, along with further proposals to be presented shortly on strengthening Europe’s capabilities in chip and cloud computing technologies. On mobilising investment, leaders reinforced their commitment to a savings and investment union with fully integrated capital markets being a necessary foundation for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness. This will enable more sustainable funding sources to support the development of fast-growing young firms at the technological frontier, including in digital and green technologies. Europe needs to improve its competitiveness to deliver for its citizens. The March European Council has set out a very ambitious agenda. The Commission’s One Europe, One Market roadmap, shared with leaders last week, sets out our action plan. The upcoming Irish Presidency of the Council will be strongly focused on delivering it. As Russia’s aggression enters its fifth year, we cannot allow this war to be normalised. Ireland and the European Union must continue to demonstrate our full solidarity with Ukraine. The European Council in March held an exchange of views with President Zelenskyy and leaders will continue these discussions with the President at our informal meeting in Cyprus tomorrow. Unfortunately, leaders were unable to reach agreement with all 27 member states on Council conclusions. Instead, a separately agreed text on Ukraine was agreed with 25 European Union Heads of State and Government, with Hungary and Slovakia not joining. We agree that Ukraine must have the budgetary and military means to continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defence to counter and deter Russia’s aggression, which continues. The crisis in the Gulf is very serious but we must retain the ability to support Ukraine and to keep pressure on Putin. Ireland strongly supports the agreement for a €90 billion loan to Ukraine. Getting these funds to Ukraine on time is critical for both Ukrainian and European security and we regret any moves which delay its disbursement. With a change of government in Hungary, I am confident that this critical funding can soon begin flowing to Ukraine. I had a call with Prime Minister-elect Magyar last week and I look forward to working with him and his new government on this and other pressing issues on the EU’s agenda. We also need to secure agreement on the 20th package of sanctions. This is about increasing the pressure on Putin to agree a ceasefire and engage meaningfully in negotiations. Ireland strongly supports further measures to raise the costs to Russia, including by targeting the shadow fleet and its enablers. These vessels are transporting Russian oil while practising irregular and high-risk shipping practices. They threaten maritime safety and security and pose an acute environmental risk. I regret that the US-led trilateral peace negotiations have effectively stalled. I hope that fresh momentum can be injected into this process, as we need to see an end to this war. Of course, President Putin could choose to end his illegal war tomorrow. Any peace agreement must be just and lasting, protecting Ukraine and Europe’s vital security interests. That is why the €90 billion is so important. It sends a real signal that Europe is behind Ukraine budgetarily and is behind Ukraine for the long haul. I am glad that Hungary has already lifted its block on the loan and its block on the new round of sanctions. This has happened while I am speaking and it is very welcome news. It is positive for that package to go to Ukraine. It will be a great relief to the people of Ukraine. Ireland remains a strong supporter of EU enlargement and we will work to advance Ukraine’s accession during our European Union Presidency. We commend Ukraine’s continued reform effort,s despite the very challenging circumstances and again, with a new leadership in Budapest, we are potentially looking at a formal opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine. We are also looking at Montenegro's accession process, which has made very good progress. Ireland would like to be in a position to have all chapters of that more or less completed by the end of our Presidency. It will be challenging but that is our objective. Ireland remains deeply concerned about the war in the Middle East and the Gulf, which has escalated significantly since the European Council met in Brussels last month. The extension of the ceasefire as announced by President Trump Is welcomed. However, the situation remains very volatile. The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by Iran, the US blockade of Iranian ports continues and a return to negotiations remains unclear. My understanding is that three ships were attacked this morning in the strait, which is very worrying news. Dialogue and diplomacy offer the best path to a lasting solution. Only through negotiations can a permanent end to the conflict be achieved and wider regional security assured. Escalation is in the interests of no one. We have seen the very damaging impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on our economies, business and households. The Strait must be reopened, and free navigation must be guaranteed in full respect of the law of the sea. Ireland's position throughout the conflict is that all parties must uphold international law. The ceasefire in Lebanon is very welcome but clearly very fragile. Ireland remains deeply concerned about the appalling nature of what happened in Lebanon and about the security situation in southern Lebanon, in particular regarding the impact on the civilian population, which has been completely disproportionate and unacceptable. Initial discussions between Israel and Lebanon - the first since 1993 - are welcome. I hope these US-facilitated talks lead to a permanent ceasefire. We must do all we can to support a positive outcome that can lead to a comprehensive and sustainable peace. Such a settlement must include the disarmament of Hezbollah and security guarantees for both Israel and Lebanon as well as respect for Lebanon’s territorial integrity. European Union leaders and I have also been very clear that UNIFIL troops must be protected and their mandate respected. The killing and targeting of UNIFIL troops is completely unacceptable. I again commend our Irish troops for the huge contribution they continue to make in Lebanon in the service of peace. At the European Council meeting, European Union leaders reiterated that, despite dramatic developments in the region, Gaza and the West Bank must not be overlooked. The European Council called for the full implementation by all parties of the ceasefire and all other provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, in line with other relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to international law and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace. European Union leaders also discussed the humanitarian situation and the need for the rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza in accordance with international humanitarian law. The Council called on Israel to reverse its decision regarding the new registration arrangements for international NGOs, which will severely restrict their ability to operate in the occupied Palestinian territory and significantly worsen the humanitarian situation. All border crossings should remain open. We remain very concerned and disturbed by Israeli actions that seek to undermine the stability of the Palestinian Authority and prospects for a durable path towards the two-state solution. Israel must immediately release revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority and extend the correspondent banking services waiver between Israeli and Palestinian banks. The European Council also condemned the massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians and underlined the importance of de-escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Ireland is extremely concerned by the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. Leaders called on the Government of Israel to reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law. Since the European Council last met in March, Ireland has condemned the law passed by the Israeli Parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland is particularly concerned about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians. The European Union has noted its long-standing principled position against the death penalty and urged Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. At the European Council meeting, I advocated for the re-examination of the EU-Israel association agreement in light of egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. We have continued to call for this in light of continued unacceptable Israeli actions. Leaders had an exchange of views with the UN Secretary General, António Guterres. In this discussion, we reiterated our commitment to multilateralism and the protection of the international rules-based order and the need to support the UN system. We discussed multilateralism in the framework of challenges to international law, notably in relation to Ukraine and the Middle East. We joined the Secretary General in calling for an end to conflict in the Middle East and a return to diplomacy. Ireland is committed to maintaining the strong working relationship between the EU and the UN over the course of our EU Presidency and focusing on underpinning the multilateral order. This was a significant and action-orientated meeting of the European Council. I look forward to continuing my discussions with fellow EU leaders in Cyprus over the next two days. I also look forward to continuing our discussions in this House on this very important agenda of work for Ireland, especially as we take up the responsibility of the EU Presidency from 1 July.

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