Taoiseach has talks with von der Leyen in UCC

Taoiseach Mícheál Martin met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen today, Friday 3 July, as part of a visit by the College of Commissioners to UCC.

An Taoiseach and President von der Leyen discussed a range of issues important to Ireland’s tenure as President of the Council of the European Union, which officially began on 1 July, and will run until 31 December.

An Taoiseach was joined by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, as well as EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath.

They met with their Commission counterparts to exchange views on the priority issues on the legislative and policy agenda for the coming months of the Presidency.

An Taoiseach discussed with President von der Leyen how the Irish Government and European Commission can best work together to deliver Ireland’s Presidency policy programme, “which focuses on competitiveness, values, and security,” according to a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

An Taoiseach said: “The visit was a valuable opportunity to discuss our presidency policy programme. We have a clear set of priorities and are ambitious for what we can achieve.

“The European Commission is a key partner and I look forward to working with President von der Leyen and the College of Commissioners to deliver our presidency programme over the next six months,” he said.

Following a private meeting between an Taoiseach and President Von der Leyen, the pair gave a joint address in which they highlighted the key priorities for Ireland’s presidency.

These included an emphasis on technological development and sovereignty, child safety, the rule of law and human rights, commitment to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the enlargement of the bloc.

They said that Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro are all developing towards membership.

They also answered a range of questions from both domestic and international media, who had travelled to UCC for the occasion.

They fielded questions on the approach that Ireland and the EU will take towards Limerick-based Aughinish Alumina, and the likelihood of an agreement on the next EU budget.

They also took questions on the EU’s stance towards illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the EU’s approach towards China, and approaches to security regarding undersea cables off the Irish coast.

President von der Leyen said that the commission has tabled a number of proposals for sanctions against extremist settlers in the West Bank, as well as against Israeli Minister for National Security Ben Gvir, but that the member states had not reached consensus on the proposals. She emphasised that her position was that the continued expansion of the settlements in the West Bank was “unacceptable, and the violence is abhorrent and undermines the two-state solution, which we see as vital to resolving the conflict”.

President von der Leyen also commented on the possibility of social media restrictions being introduced at an EU level for children and teenagers. She said that an expert group is currently working on a report which will be submitted to her office by 13 July, which she hoped would provide a “comprehensive concept on social media delay for different age groups”.

“It is not a question of when children or teenagers will have access to social media,” she said, “but rather a question of when social media will have access to children and teenagers”.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.