Peter Burke TD, the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs, will represent Ireland at the upcoming EU General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting on November 15 in Brussels.
Ministers at the Council will review the annotated draft agenda for the December European Council. The current agenda for the European Council covers a wide range of topics, including Ukraine, the Middle East, EU Enlargement, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, Security and Defense, and External Relations.
Additional items on the Council’s agenda include discussions on EU-UK relations and the European Commission’s work program for 2024. Ministers will also address the rule of law in Poland and EU values in Hungary.
There will be a further progress report on Spain’s request to include Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official languages of the EU. Additionally, ministers will have a working lunch focused on the future of Europe.
Interesting bilateral with Belgian Minister for Foreign and European Affairs @hadjalahbib earlier today.
Belgium hold the presidency of the Council of the EU from January, so it was good to hear their ambitious plans for the term 🇧🇪 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/FC5FSruxNY
— Peter Burke (@peterburkefg) November 15, 2023Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Burke emphasized the importance of this month’s Council in preparing for the discussions at the European Council in December. EU leaders will once again address the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Minister Burke stressed the significance of the EU conveying strong messages about the urgent need for de-escalation, civilian protection, adherence to international humanitarian law, and the EU’s continued unwavering support for Ukraine in its resistance against Russian aggression. He also underscored the need to continue efforts to ensure that essential humanitarian assistance reaches people in Gaza.
Minister Burke expressed his strong support for the Council receiving an update on the current state of EU-UK relations. While acknowledging the progress made in implementing the first phase of the Windsor Framework, he emphasized the need to maintain focus on ensuring the full and good-faith implementation of all existing agreements to foster a positive and stable relationship with the UK that serves the interests of all parties involved.