Tánaiste attends EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels tomorrow.

Items for discussion include the Middle East Peace Process, the future of EU engagement in Afghanistan, the EU's southern neighbourhood policy including developments in Syria and Libya, and EU relations with Russia and Ukraine. 

Speaking ahead of the Council, the Tánaiste said:

"I welcome the detailed discussion which EU Foreign Ministers will have on the Middle East Peace Process.  I will be raising recent developments on the ground, especially issues around Israeli settlements that we need to see resolved to allow for a full and speedy resumption of political negotiations. This is a key opportunity for the EU to influence policy in the region, in particular, following the formation of the new coalition government in Israel.

I also welcome the strategic discussion which will take place on EU-Russian relations which will prepare the ground for the EU-Russia Summit in St Petersburg in June.  This is an opportunity to strengthen our relationship and support positive change following the recent elections and the setting-up of the new Russian administration."