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From:Department of the Taoiseach

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Seansailéir Merz as cuairt a thabhairt ar Bhaile Átha Cliath inniu.

Tá áthas orm céad míle fáilte a chur romhat.

Chancellor Merz, you are most welcome to Dublin.

Germany and Ireland are close friends and partners.

I therefore offer you my deepest condolences on those killed and injured in the horrific attack on Berlin pride at the weekend.

Pride celebrates important European values – inclusion, equality, respect and protection for minorities.

An attack on those values anywhere in the Union is an attack on those values everywhere in the Union.

We cannot and we must not ever tolerate it or accept it.

Friedrich, Chancellor, Ireland stands in full solidarity with Germany.

I was delighted to visit Berlin in April as we prepared for our Presidency of the EU Council.

I am equally delighted to welcome you today for our discussion of some of the most important issues on our shared agenda for the period ahead.

It is important that we reach agreement on the Union’s next long-term budget - the Multiannual Financial Framework – as soon as possible.

Europe needs a budget that meets its future needs and ambitions, while also reflecting our current economic situation.

As Presidency, Ireland’s task is to listen carefully to the priorities of all Member States and to make a new proposal in October that will hopefully help to bring positions closer together.

I will listen carefully to the Chancellor on what is important to him and to Germany. I will also discuss with him where there may be scope for compromise.

I believe that if we all approach the task in the right spirit, agreement should be possible by the end of the year.

Ireland has made improving Europe’s economic competitiveness a priority for our Presidency.

The EU’s institutions have signed up to the ‘One Europe, One Market’ Roadmap which identifies the key steps we need to take together to get there. It is our guiding star as Presidency.

The Roadmap sets out steps towards simplifying regulation, deepening the single market, widening our trade links, addressing energy costs and ensuring Europe is positioned to take advantage of the digital and climate transitions.

I know that the Chancellor shares my sense of urgency about this task, and we will consider together how to really drive the process forward.

Ireland is also working to move forward on enlargement of our Union.

We will do our utmost to ensure that those countries looking to join the EU can move forward as fast and as far as possible, consistent with the efforts they are making to undertake the necessary reforms.

The Chancellor has been very clear in his wish to see greater momentum in the process, a wish I strongly share.

We will also discuss international issues, including the situation in Ukraine which I visited last week.

We must never forget that what our fellow Europeans endure every single day as Russia persists in its brutal and illegal war.

They are deeply deserving of our support, which is unshakeable, and our commitment to helping them secure a just and lasting peace.

Chancellor Merz, Friedrich, once again, thank you again for your visit and I look forward to continuing our discussions.