LAST UPDATE | 24 Jun
TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the name of the next EU commissioner will be brought to cabinet tomorrow after he discusses Fianna Fáil’s choice with the other Government leaders later this evening.
Speaking reporters ahead of a meeting with the European Foreign affairs council in Luxembourg today, Martin confirmed that the name of the next commissioner will be putting forward a “high-calibre candidate”.
There are widespread reports that Finance Minister Michael McGrath is set to be named as Ireland’s commissioner. While Martin did not confirm McGrath’s name, he did say that a name will be discussed this evening.
European foreign affairs ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss the latest on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, beginning membership talks with Ukraine and the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The meeting started earlier this morning with an address by the outgoing EU foreign commissioner Josep Borrell and where further sanctions against Russia are due to be discussed.
Martin said that the foreign affairs council is meeting at the start of an “important week” in the EU, where the European leaders are due to select the nominees for the top jobs and countries will begin to name their next commissioners.
He told reporters in Luxembourg this morning: “We will bring them forward to the cabinet tomorrow morning. But I will discuss that in the first instance with the party do just this evening.”
Asked about the Government support for Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as Commission President, Martin said the Government intends to support the German politician in her bid.
Fianna Fáil MEPs have been vocal that they will not be voting for von der Leyen’s second term over the Commission President’s of the conflict in Gaza. However, today Martin said that he will address his party’s MEPs on the issue.
He added that a “high-level agreement” has been made between the EPP, Fine Gael’s European group, the S&D, the Irish Labour Party’s European group, and Renew, Fianna Fáil’s European group.
Shortly after the meeting began, the EU foreign ministers agreed to a litany of new sanctions on Russia, targeting the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG), excluding the country from financial services and blocking investments made to EU NGOs.
In a similar, reversed move to Georgia and Russia’s ‘foreign influence law’ – which the Ministers are discussing in Luxembourg later this morning – NGOs and media companies will now be banned from accepting investments from Russia and its proxies.
Investments going into Russia from EU member states for LNG projects are also now banned and the EU are to develop internal messaging systems that exclude Russian trading partners to further isolate them from the European and international markets.
Foreign affairs ministers were also addressed by the Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs Dmytro Kuleba, before taking stock of their positions after a peace summit, a meeting of the G7 and a recovery conference within the last few weeks.
“The situation in Ukraine also remains of grave concern, as Russia continues to escalate its aggression,” Martin said ahead of the meeting yesterday.
The Tánaiste added that this week key decisions around EU membership talks with Ukraine will be made and the adoption of further sanctions against Russia at the meeting today.
The ministers are also to discuss the situation on the ground in Gaza, including the worsening humanitarian crisis and the rising tensions on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Martin said he hopes to push for a “proactive and strategic” response from the EU on the ministers’ position on the ongoing global conflicts and crises, particularly in Gaza where the conflict is deepening.
He added: “There is an obligation on the EU to do everything it possibly can to bring about our shared objectives of an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and an urgent improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
“We cannot allow breaches of international law to go unchecked and our diplomatic action should reflect that.”
The EU Foreign Affairs council will also discuss the fallout around the protests in Georgia last month, which saw the country pass a law – and its President veto it – that created difficulties for charities and media companies to earn foreign investment.
The adoption of the ‘foreign influence law’ was condemned by EU leaders, including chair of today’s meeting Josep Borrell.
The summit will also have what is understood to be an informal discussion, with six foreign ministers from the West Balkan regions, on common defence and security policy challenges between them and the EU.
Ongoing conflict in Africa, in the Great Lakes Region, will also be discussed. The ministers will look to find possible ways for the EU and its member states can encourage peace talks with countries at conflict and other neighbouring states.
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