Ireland – Visit by Jean-Yves Le Drian and Clément Beaune (Dublin, 20 and 21 May 2021)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, will visit Ireland from May 20 to 21. They will meet with their respective counterparts: Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defense, and Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs. They will be received by Michael D. Higgins, President of the Republic of Ireland.

These meetings are part of the efforts to strengthen dialogue between France and Ireland: A political declaration marking the first step toward the implementation of a joint action plan to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in a large number of sectors will be signed during this visit.

The implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol and the consequences of Brexit for our two countries will be central to the discussions.

Jean-Yves Le Drian will also discuss key current international issues on which our two countries share many converging views, while Ireland currently holds a seat on the UN Security Council. He will notably discuss with his counterpart the situation in the Middle East and the Sahel. Africa is a key focus for Irish cooperation and our two countries share the belief that a strong partnership between the EU and the African continent is key to addressing global challenges.

The meeting between Clément Beaune and Thomas Byrne will also focus on the European agenda, notably the European recovery plan, the rule of law, European coordination in the face of the pandemic and digital policy.