Tánaiste to attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels
Press release
16 July 2019Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney TD, will tomorrow attend a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels. Ministers will discuss the situation in Iraq, Iran and the Central African Republic, the issue of migration and will also have a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Moldova.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, the Tánaiste said:
The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the situation in Iraq following the holding of parliamentary elections last year and recent progress in the process of forming a government. Iraq has the EU’s support, as it works on reconstruction and reconciliation following the defeat of ISIS.
Against the backdrop of increasing tensions in the Gulf and developments regarding the JCPOA, my EU colleagues and I will also have a discussion on Iran. We continue to believe that there is no credible peaceful alternative to the JCPOA and that all remaining parties to the agreement should continue its implementation in full.
In addition, Ministers will address the situation in the Central African Republic. Ireland supports the EU’s prioritisation of restructuring the security forces, and believes that there is a need for increased investment and greater coordination among stakeholders to address the humanitarian situation.
We will also discuss external aspects of migration in light of recent developments in the Mediterranean. The issue of migration cannot be ignored.
Finally, EU Foreign Ministers will have a meeting with the new Foreign Minister of Moldova. I welcome the peaceful transfer of power in Moldova and look forward to working with the new government to bring about positive reforms.
ENDS
