The EU and its partners must demand the safety of UN peacekeepers, the Taoiseach said on arrival in Brussels this afternoon.
The Taoiseach is in the Belgian capital for two days of EU summits.
The first EU-Gulf States summit is underway this afternoon and this evening. EU leaders will then stay on tomorrow to meet amongst themselves.
The situation in the Middle East is one of the major topics on the agenda.
“My main priority in being here over the next number of days is, of course, the safety of the UNIFIL [UN force in Lebanon] peacekeeping troops. Included in that, of course, the 379 Irish men and Irish women”, said Taoiseach Simon Harris.
“Peacekeepers and peacekeeping are protected very specifically by international law and by international norms. And it’s absolutely essential that from here today and tomorrow, that Europe and that the EU and the Gulf states speak with one voice, in terms of the absolute vital importance of those peacekeeping troops being kept safe.”
The President of the European Council also expressed similar sentiments in his letter to EU27 leaders.
“The recent attacks on UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon are irresponsible and unacceptable. The safety of UN personnel and humanitarian workers must be protected”, Charles Michel wrote.
The EU would like to see “de-escalation” in the region.
Tomorrow EU leaders will be joined by President Zelenskyy who is expected to set out his ‘victory plan’ for Ukraine.
The 27 heads of states and government will also discuss migration. Ireland is one of the member states understood to be open to ‘innovative solutions’ to the complex problem.
Following the launch of Italy’s scheme to process migrants in Albania, an increasing number of member states want the EU to consider what else could be done outside the European Union to ease the pressure within Europe.