Overview
- The Tánaiste meets Minister for the Economy and Finance Roland Lescure at the finance ministry in Paris this afternoon as part of his St Patrick's Day programme.
- Discussions are scheduled to cover Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the EU, the future CAP negotiations, and EU competitiveness and productivity.
- Energy cooperation features on the agenda, including the Celtic Interconnector due to open in 2028 and potential additional links.
- Harris said the presidency will prioritise values, security and competitiveness, describing France as a primary partner for advancing that agenda.
- He highlighted record two-way trade topping €45 billion in goods and services in both 2023 and 2024, arguing that competitiveness underpins jobs, salaries and living standards.