Minister McEntee to attend Informal Foreign Affairs Council on Trade in Cyprus

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, will take part in an Informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade in Nicosia, Cyprus, today, hosted by Cyprus’ Minister for Energy, Commerce and Industry, Michael Damianos. Cyprus currently hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Minister McEntee will meet with other Trade Ministers and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, to discuss recent developments in international trade. Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Oknojo-Iweala, and Chair of the European Parliament Committee on International Trade, Bernd Lange, will also join the meeting. The Minister will have bilateral meetings with Commissioner Sefcovic and MEP Lange, as well as direct exchanges with fellow Minsters.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister McEntee said: “I am looking forward to meeting with my European counterparts and Commissioner Šefčovič today. I would like to thank Minister Damianos for hosting this meeting and wish Cyprus every success in progressing the trade policy agenda during their EU Presidency. Ireland will continue to play an active role in shaping trade policy during 2026, including as we prepare to take over the Presidency in July.”

“I welcome the opportunity to discuss the EU’s preparations for the upcoming 14th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Cameroon in March, as well as EU-China trade relations. In the new international trade environment, it is vital that we to strengthen the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. To achieve this we need a reformed World Trade Organization that can address modern trade challenges.”

The Minister continued: “I look forward to representing Ireland’s trade priorities during discussions on ongoing trade negotiations. Alongside EU partners, Ireland will continue to pursue an ambitious, open, rules- and values-based trade policy agenda that seeks to advance Europe’s diversification priorities. We will also continue to support European competitiveness, resilience and economic security, as well as inclusive economic growth and trade. As the EU-US trade relationship is the largest in the world, I will stress the need for both Europe and the US to work on the implementation of the EU-US Joint Statement, which was the emphasis of my recent meeting in Washington with the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. ”

ENDS

Press Office

20 February 2026