The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is set to meet France’s finance minister in Paris as part of the second day of his St Patrick’s Day programme in the country.
Mr Harris will meet France’s Minister for the Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure at the French finance ministry later today, reports RTE.
Discussions between the two ministers are expected to include Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the European Union, negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as issues relating to EU competitiveness and productivity.
The meeting will also address the Celtic Interconnector, the planned undersea electricity cable linking Cork and Brittany which is scheduled to come into operation in 2028, along with possible future cooperation on energy connections, reports RTE.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste said: “Our presidency will prioritise values, security and competitiveness. These pillars go to the heart of what we want to achieve every day in Europe and they are deeply intrinsically interlinked.
“We will look to France as a primary partner in driving our European agenda focussed on these themes.
“Two-way trade between Ireland and France has increased substantially over the past decade, reaching record values of over €45 billion in goods and services in both 2023 and 2024.
“Competitiveness is what ensures that the European economy thrives, and that its citizens prosper. It is what delivers good jobs, good salaries and a good quality of life,” reports RTE.
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