Micheál Martin: Europe must deepen energy links and resilience
Micheál Martin addressed the European Political and Community Summit, outlining urgent priorities for European unity, security and resilience. He highlighted concerns about hybrid threats, Russian aggression, the energy crisis and the need to reduce dependencies.
Summit attendance and focus
Micheál Martin noted strong participation by European leaders and by the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, arguing that the turnout showcased the unique value of the EPC. The meeting concentrated on building future unity and stability across Europe.
Security, Ukraine and hybrid threats
Martin emphasised the deterioration in the international security situation and highlighted remarks from President Zelensky on the challenges faced by the Ukrainian people in confronting continuing Russian aggression. He stressed that hybrid threats remain a serious concern for all countries.
Energy crisis and resilience
The address underlined how the current energy crisis has exposed dangerous dependencies. Micheál Martin argued for deepening energy links, investing in interconnections and strengthening electricity grids to improve resilience and protect households and businesses from global turbulence.
Drugs cooperation and Dublin hosting
Martin also attended the second meeting of the European Coalition Against Drugs and welcomed leaders' commitment to combat trafficking and drug-related threats. He confirmed that Ireland will host the next European Political Community meeting in Dublin in November, taking the baton from Armenia and pledging to meet the high standards set by the current hosts.
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The European Political and Community Summit today focused very much on building the future unity and stability in Europe. Participation by so many European leaders and indeed the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, has showcased the unique value of the EPC and the vital importance to us all of the topics that we discussed today. We spoke about the deterioration in the international security situation, including hybrid threats which continue to be of serious concern. We heard directly from President Zelensky on the challenges he and the Ukrainian people face in confronting continuing Russian aggression. We discussed conflict in the Middle East and the impact on energy prices and supply, and the cost pressures faced by businesses and families. Most importantly, we discussed how to reduce our dependencies and how to improve our resilience to better withstand global turbulence. It is an issue that touches us all, and it makes sense for the EPC to be a forum in which we can exchange views and share experience. The current energy crisis demonstrates that we simply have to deepen our energy links and invest in interconnections and in our electricity grids. I also attended the second meeting of the European Coalition Against Drugs, and I welcomed the strong commitment by leaders to maintain a strong focus on our collective fight against drug trafficking and drug-related threats. Constructing a broad community has never been more important as our governments deal with many serious economic, social and political challenges. As you all know, I look forward to hosting the next meeting of the European Political Community in Dublin in November. We are enormously pleased to receive the baton from Armenia, who have been so warm in your hospitality and so efficient and professional in your organisation of today's meeting. You have set a very high bar for us as we advance our preparations, and we hope we can live up to the standards that you have set.
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