55. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if EU security issues were discussed at the October 2019 EU General Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50948/19]

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., represented Ireland at the General Affairs Coucil (GAC) meeting in Luxembourg on 15 October 2019.

EU security issues were not on the meeting agenda for the GAC. At the Council meeting, Ministers discussed the EU Enlargement and the Stabilisation and Association Process for Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. At the GAC meeting, Minister McEntee stated our strong support for opening accession negotiations with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, in line with the European Commission’s recommendations in May.

The Council also held an exchange of views on the draft Conclusions for the European Council on 17-18 October 2019. The Finnish Presidency provided an overview of the seminar of the future of EU transparency that was held in Brussels on the 24th of September 2019.