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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attending meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 26 and 27 October
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attending meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 26 and 27 October
The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D., will travel to Brussels on 26 and 27 October for a meeting of the European Council to discuss the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, migration, and other external relations issues, as well as economic matters. He will also participate in a Euro Summit.
Speaking ahead of the meetings, the Taoiseach said:
“I am extremely concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the potential for escalation in the region.
“I will be calling on my European Council colleagues to work with partners to achieve a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds to make it possible for water, food, and fuel to reach those in desperate need in Gaza.
“I will also be calling for us to work with each other and with partners in the region to secure the safe passage of EU citizens trapped in Gaza. And I will advocate for a new peace initiative for the Middle East.
“The EU has been clear in its condemnation of Hamas and in its recognition of Israel's right to defend itself in keeping with International Humanitarian law. How Israel responds matters to her future and her long-term security. Hamas must immediately release hostages, without precondition and lay down its arms. It is a terrorist organisation not a state.
“While events in the Middle East will rightly be at the centre of our discussions, we will also be keeping our attention on Russia's war on Ukraine. It would be a mistake for Russia to seek to take advantage of the situation and we must not allow that to happen or for Europe's focus to drift away from the war in our near neighbourhood.”