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Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, is attending an Informal Meeting of the General Affairs Council in Copenhagen, where EU ministers and representatives from candidate and potential candidate countries are discussing the future of Europe and the path to enlargement.
Ahead of the meeting, Minister Byrne highlighted Ireland’s continued support for EU expansion, referencing recent visits to Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine, and Moldova. He reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to championing enlargement as a driver of transformational change, particularly during its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in late 2026.
Key topics on the agenda include strengthening the rule of law across the Union and assessing institutional reforms needed to prepare for future enlargement. Minister Byrne emphasized that the rule of law is fundamental to the EU’s integrity, citing concerns over measures in some Member States that conflict with core European values.
On the margins of the meeting, Minister Byrne is also holding bilateral discussions with counterparts from Germany, Spain, France, and Portugal to address shared priorities ahead of Ireland’s EU presidency.
【Source: Department of Foreign Affairs – Minister Byrne joins EU Ministers】
, Thomas Byrne TD Minister Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
