Minister Byrne to visit Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, will today (24 November) commence a pre-EU Presidency visit to the Baltic States from 24-27 November.

The Minister’s visit will commence in Latvia, where he will meet with his counterpart at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Artjoms Uršuļskis, for discussions centred on Ireland’s preparations for the EU Presidency. At the Latvian Ministry of Defence, Minister Byrne will

hold security and defence discussions with the State Secretary, Aivars Puriņš. The Minister is also due to meet with members of the Latvian Parliamentary European Affairs Committee.

In Vilnius, Minister Byrne will hold bilateral consultations with his counterparts, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus, and Vice Minister for Defence Karolis Aleksa. Minister Byrne will also engage with the Lithuanian Parliamentary European Affairs Committee. During his Vilnius visit, Minister Byrne will also meet with the National Crisis Management Centre and the National Cyber Security Centre.

In Tallinn, Minister Byrne will meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, and Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jonatan Vseviov, for discussions on Ireland’s ambitions for the EU Presidency, regional security, and EU issues. Minister Byrne will also engage with the members of the Parliamentary Estonia-Ireland Friendship Group.

Minister Byrne will visit the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence to be briefed by its director and a member of the Defence Forces currently on secondment to the centre.

Commenting on his visit, Minister Byrne said: “My visit to the Baltic States takes place against the backdrop of hybrid attacks and threats in Europe and Russia’s ongoing onslaught on Ukraine and its people. In meeting with my ministerial counterparts in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, I will take the opportunity to discuss the war in Ukraine, engage on security and defence matters, and I will hear their perspectives on Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency. Ireland will continue to work with our EU partners to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and to advance Ukraine’s membership of our European Union.”