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From:Department of the Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will welcome the President of the European Council, António Costa, to Ireland today (Thursday, September 17). President Costa is in Dublin as part of his regular visits to EU capitals for discussions with members of the European Council.

The leaders will discuss progress on priority areas for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.

They will also look ahead to the agenda for the meeting of the European Council on 15-16 October, which includes Ukraine, the Middle East, the EU’s next Multiannual budget (MFF), EU enlargement, migration, competitiveness and European Security and Defence.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach said:

"I look forward to welcoming António Costa to Farmleigh as he comes to the end of his ‘Tour of Capitals’ for discussions with EU leaders.

“I will brief President Costa on progress being made across our Presidency policy programme as we approach the halfway point of our six-month term in office.

“Since 1 July, we have been working to drive the European Union’s policy agenda. We have been taking forward work on significant policy objectives across our core Presidency priorities of competitiveness, values and security.

“President Costa and I will have an important discussion on the negotiations for the next MFF. Pursuing agreement on the next EU budget for 2028-34 is a key priority.

“Ireland is advancing negotiations at a critical juncture, working to bring Member States closer to agreement on key issues, including on volume, financing and getting the right balance of expenditure across priority areas. I look forward to hearing President Costa’s assessment of his recent conversations with other leaders on the Union’s next budget.

“We will also look ahead to the next meeting of the European Council in October, where we will discuss the situation in Ukraine in the face of heightened Russian aggression in recent weeks and assess developments in the Middle East. Leaders will also have strategic discussions on migration and EU enlargement.

“I will update President Costa on preparations for the meeting of the European Political Community summit and the informal meeting of EU leaders taking place in Dublin in November.”