Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will receive on October 9, 2012, at the Quai d’Orsay, his Irish counterpart, Eamon Gilmore.

While Ireland is preparing to assume the presidency of the EU Council during the first half of 2013, this meeting will provide an opportunity for our two countries to reaffirm our attachment to the full implementation of the decisions taken by the European Council on June 28 and 29 relating to recovery and the resolution of the crisis.

The two ministers will also discuss other European issues, notably the situation in the euro zone, the banking union project, the negotiations under way on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 and the enlargement of the European Union.

In preparation for the Foreign Affairs Council on October 15, the two ministers will also discuss the key international issues, notably Syria, Iran and the situation in the Sahel.