Thomas Byrne meets UK officials to discuss EU-UK relations

Irish Minister of State Thomas Byrne is conducting a series of high-level engagements in London to discuss the future of EU-UK relations. As the chair of the EU General Affairs Council during the Irish EU presidency, Byrne is advocating for a strengthened partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Byrne is scheduled to meet with Hamish Falconer, the UK minister for intergovernmental and European relations, and will deliver remarks at Chatham House. Following a previous phone conversation, the ministers intend to hold in-depth discussions regarding the direction of bilateral cooperation.

Byrne has called for a second EU-UK summit to be held in the near future, building upon the momentum of the first summit held in May 2025. He emphasized that a balanced summit delivering tangible benefits for citizens is essential. The minister noted that the UK remains a vital like-minded partner, particularly given current geopolitical instability, and highlighted the need for cooperation in trade, security, foreign policy, and people-to-people contacts.