Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
MICHEÁL MARTIN IS set to make his last trip as Taoiseach to Brussels today for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders and their EU counterparts.
He will also be attending a meeting a meeting of the European Council tomorrow also.
Ahead of the meetings, the Taoiseach has spoken of the importance of EU relations with Southeast Asia, specifically on tackling climate change, while keeping the pressure up on Russia will be the focus of the meeting on Thursday.
“Recent years have shown clearly the importance of global cooperation if we are to manage the increasingly complex challenges the world faces.
“Southeast Asia is an important economic and geo-political partner for the EU, especially on issues such as climate change and an increasingly uncertain security environment.
“I look forward to discussing these and other issues with Leaders from the region,” Martin said.
He further said that he is looking forward to the European Council meeting which he says will “express our support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes; and will deal with the consequences of the war in areas such as energy and the economy.”
Martin also said that further sanctions on Russia will be considered, as well as “how to ensure that those responsible for the war are held to account for what they have unleashed and sustained.”
EU leaders are looking to bolster ties with ASEAN leaders today in the face of the war in Ukraine and challenges from China.
ASEAN has one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and the EU is keen to boost trade between the two.
President of France Emmanuel Macron has said that there is a need for Europeans to “reconnect with ASEAN, one of the most dynamic areas in the world.”
The EU has been on a diplomatic push to strengthen a global front against Moscow.
However, ASEAN’S 10 nations have been divided in their response to the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.
Singapore has backed Western sanctions against Russia while Vietnam and Laos, which have military ties to Moscow, have remained more neutral.
Alongside Thailand, they abstained from a United Nations vote in October condemning Russia’s attempted annexation of regions of Ukraine.
These diverging views have led to intense wrangling over a final declaration from the summit, with the EU pushing for stronger language to condemn Moscow.
An EU official said Brussels was satisfied that the message sent in the end will be “crystal clear” on the need to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
There is another global giant looming over the summit however in the form of China.
Chinese claims over the South China Sea have set it against some neighbours and sparked fears over trade flows through the key thoroughfare.
Yet China remains the biggest trade partner for ASEAN and many in the regions are wary of distancing themselves from their giant neighbour.
The EU is now keen to pitch itself as a reliable partner for Southeast Asia’s dynamic economies.
-Additional reporting from Eimer McAuley.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Dense drivers ain’t gonna help either.
Heavy fog on way to work. Of the 100s of cars I saw only 2 had fog lights on. Talk about dense – in every sense of the word!
@Patrice Ahern: I Hope they turn them off when fog has lifted
@Philip Murphy: that’s the problem, some don’t. You regularly see some thickos have their front fog lights on 24/7, no matter the weather. Maybe they think it makes them look ‘brighter’ (I’ll get my coat) in
@Patrice Ahern: If you can see the cars ahead without the foglights, foglights are not needed. It’s really dense to use foglights on bumper to bumper traffic blinding everybody behind you where you can see the queue ahead anyway.
@Sami Hentunen: Correct, fog lights should be used like full headlights, turn them on and off as required but that won’t happen…
@Patrice Ahern: I’d hazard a guess they weren’t driving any slower than usual either.
Never mind the fog it’s an ice rink in Navan, move over ice man of 2010…. there is a new kid in town….me lol ouch
No fog here in West Cork and all Priority 1 and Priority 2 roads gritted. Well done to Cork Co. Co!!
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: How did Cork Co Co get rid of the fog? Please let us know, don’t be keeping all the secrets in Cork
@Denis Conroy: Maybe they sold it on eBay?
My favourite part of the article was tonight is described as “very cold” by met eireann .. just had a vision of fr ted talking to dougal
I live in Dublin and there was no fog or frost this morning
@Gerry R: Good job you told us!
@Gerry R: the sea breeze rose the coastal temperature above freezing
This is the time they won’t turn on their fog lights.
Everyday is a fog day in my head.
Tipping minus 8 for last few nights in w cork. Just about made 2degrees for an hour and heading south again. The light showers today will make roads lethal by 8pm. For God’s sake stay at home and only travel for emergency. Your worth it.
I’m working from home tomorrow, thank god. I almost broke my neck on numerous occasions this morning.
@Gavin Gray: Slow down my man,there’s no need to go at break neck speed.
@Gavin Gray: Get ice grips at least, it’s lethal underfoot without them.
@F Fitzgerald: Hi FF,good to see ya again. Well,that broke the ice
You wouldn’t be long getting frost bit.
Coldplay. It was all yellow.
jaysus it’s called winter.. natin to do with klimaat change..
Children in Gaza sleeping in DIY tents. How cold is that? israel
@Barry Williams. Those sheep are cold, the one’s over there are far far colder.
@P. V. Aglue: It’s nice to have a happy ewe near
Snowing in my part of Wexford now… 0145
have your say