New ‘imperatives’ to consider in UK-EU relationship, Taoiseach says

The UK has to deal with different “imperatives” in its relationship with the European Union after Brexit “irrespective of who’s in government”, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin was responding to a question on whether he was concerned a shift to a Reform UK government could impact UK-EU relations.

Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU between July and the end of the year, making it responsible for planning and chairing council meetings and negotiations – as well as representing the council in discussions with the European Parliament and European Commission.

It was platformed as an opportunity for “pragmatic engagement” between the UK and the EU on issues affecting Northern Ireland at a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) on Friday.

Among those attending the NSMC in Co Armagh were Irish premier Mr Martin, deputy premier Simon Harris, and Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee as well as Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neil and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Mr Martin said he had “no doubt” that the “very good relationship” Ireland enjoys with the UK Government would continue.

He said: “It’s a sensible, pragmatic one, and we support the thrust of the desire to have a pragmatic, sensible relationship with the European Union – we think everybody can benefit from that.”

A press conference following the summit was held as counting continued in council elections in England – where pro-Brexit party Reform made major gains – as well as for parliament seats in Scotland and Wales.

Asked if he was concerned that Reform leader Nigel Farage potentially being the next prime minister could impact EU-UK relations, Mr Martin said Ireland’s presidency will deal with the current UK Government and warned that local and general elections are “two different beasts completely”.

Mr Martin said: “Our view is and our perspective is that we believe that a good relationship between the European Union and United Kingdom is an important one.”

He said “irrespective of who’s in government” there are “imperatives out there now” that were not present before Brexit.

He said successive shocks had created anxiety and fear for the future in the public – as he pointed to “seismic change” within the last 10 years due to Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, tariffs, and the war in the Middle East.

Mr Martin told reporters: “Hence that growing rapprochement between European Union and the United Kingdom has that broader compass in mind, in terms of security and defence, European self defence.”

He added: “These are realities any government will have to deal with.

“Politicians generally can campaign in poetry – but have to govern in prose.”

Both he and Mr Harris cautioned that politics was becoming more fragmented across the world with the Tanaiste answering the same question: “In Ireland, we’ve worked long and hard enough to disentangle ourselves from British elections – so I’m not going to comment on an election that takes place in a different country.”

He said the relationship between Ireland and the UK was the best it had been since Brexit, and given there had been no change of Government in the UK, he expects that “to continue”.

Meanwhile, Ms McEntee said the presidency will be an opportunity to “show that the EU-UK relationship will continue to be a priority for Ireland”.

She said a UK-EU summit is an opportunity to show progress on some key areas including issues around phytosanitary rules and the emissions trading systems.

Ms Little-Pengelly said she was hopeful the presidency would offer opportunities for “pragmatic engagement”.

She said the key challenges faced by the EU are very similar to those faced by the UK, with global instability impacting on energy security and costs faced by citizens.

The DUP MLA said she was keen to have cooperation in responding to those challenges as she said “long delays” in North-South interconnectors are an issue that can be examined – along with other interconnectors into the European mainland.

Mr Harris said all the leaders were “committed to further developing that conversation” around energy security and resilience.

The Tanaiste said: “We need to do better collectively in terms of developing policy responses there – interconnectors being a part of that, renewables being a part of that, learning from each other around retrofitting and supports being a part of that.”

Ms Little-Pengelly also expressed hope that the UK could be included in the EU’s Security Action for Europe (Safe) defence fund, adding that Northern Ireland has a “very strong” aerospace and defence sector.

Mr Harris has previously said the UK’s failure to secure Safe membership was “extraordinarily disappointing” and hoped it could be reviewed.

The deputy First Minister said cooperation between the UK and EU on defence as well as issues around cyber security and undersea cables is “both logical and also important”.

Ms McEntee emphasised the need for the EU, UK and US to work closely together on “overall security” and called for increased work on protecting critical underwater infrastructure.

Ms O’Neill said global volatility was high on the agenda for the meeting, with leaders focused on “how we can help people through this crisis”

Sinn Fein’s deputy leader said they discussed plans around energy security, large infrastructure projects including the Ulster Canal and the A5 as well as Ulster University’s Magee campus and air connectivity between Dublin and Londonderry.

Ms Little-Pengelly also told reporters that there were remaining issues with the post-Brexit Windsor Framework trade agreement, adding there was a high level of “entirely unnecessary” and “disproportionate” bureaucracy affecting Northern Ireland businesses which were under financial pressure.

The Council meeting came a day after the leaders attended a signing ceremony for the delivery of faster trains between Belfast and Dublin, to enter service in 2030.