About: Simon Coveney
EU officials fear Ethiopian collapse amid ‘dramatic situation’
As European governments urge their citizens to leave Ethiopia and critical diplomatic staff are expelled, the EU is becoming increasingly concerned that the escalating civil conflict there risks unravelling the country entirely.
Stop the poison, UK’s Frost tells the EU over post-Brexit deal
British Brexit minister David Frost made an impassioned plea to the European Union on Tuesday (12 October) to allow for "significant change" to post-Brexit rules governing trade with Northern Ireland, saying only that could draw the poison from their relations.
Britain and Ireland argue on Twitter over Brexit deal
Britain and Ireland traded barbs on Twitter on Sunday (10 October) after British Brexit negotiator David Frost restated his view that the EU must agree "significant change" to the Northern Ireland protocol that governs trade and border rules in the province.
EU rejects UK demand for new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland
Britain demanded on Wednesday (21 July) that the European Union agree to rewrite a deal overseeing problematic post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland just a year after it was agreed with the bloc, a call immediately rejected by Brussels.
Time for Boris to stop ‘passing the buck’
Bluster, bluff and a freewheeling approach to facts have been the hallmark of the attitude of Boris Johnson to the problems Brexit posed for Northern Ireland, writes Dick Roche.
Margin for compromise limited as Brexit talks go down to wire
European diplomats warned Thursday (3 December) they have made all the concessions they can in trade talks with Britain, as Downing Street vowed to press ahead with a UK law that could undermine Brussels' remaining trust in London.
Britain’s Brexit talks with EU on verge of collapse
Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union teetered on the brink of collapse on Tuesday (8 October), with tit-for-tat claims of intransigence and sabotage before an end of October deadline.
Ireland dismisses reported UK Brexit border proposal
Britain is proposing to set up "customs clearance centres" on both sides of the Irish border after Brexit, Irish national broadcaster RTE reported on Monday (30 September), an idea Ireland's foreign minister quickly dismissed as a "non-starter".
UK government steps up no-deal Brexit blame game
Britain's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned Wednesday (28 August) that the European Union would be blamed for its "lack of flexibility" on the Irish border question in the event of no-deal Brexit – a statement quickly rebutted by Ireland's foreign minister.
Sturgeon: Scotland has “profound concerns” about new UK PM Johnson
The appointment of Boris Johnson as the United Kingdom's prime minister has sparked worry in Scotland, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she has "profound concerns about the prospect of his premiership."
Boris Johnson says trade deal can break Brexit deadlock
Boris Johnson, favored to become Britain’s new prime minister, said on Sunday (21 July) the country could agree a free trade deal to leave the EU that would remove the need for one of the more problematic parts of a previous agreement.
Ireland launches omnibus bill to mitigate ‘lose-lose’ of no-deal Brexit
Ireland unveiled its contingency plans for a ‘no deal’ Brexit on Friday, publishing an omnibus bill of fifteen pieces of legislation across nine government departments covering citizen's rights, tax and migration, and the education, healthcare and transport sectors.
Ireland expresses ‘frustration’ at Brexit uncertainty
Ireland's deputy prime minister expressed annoyance on Monday (18 February) at Britain's continued failure to ratify a deal on its orderly withdrawal from the European Union.
May will seek ‘pragmatic’ solution to Brexit deal in Brussels
British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday (3 February) she would seek a "pragmatic solution" to a parliamentary impasse over the terms on which Britain leaves the European Union when she tries to reopen talks with Brussels.
Technology to unlock the Irish border conundrum?
Supporters of Brexit in London have hailed Brussels' embrace of remote, high-tech customs controls as a sign that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is giving ground in order to resolve a stalemate on Northern Ireland that has held up a deal.
UK plans to stay in customs union until December 2021 under new ‘backstop’
The UK plans to remain in the EU’s customs union until December 2021 according to a new ‘backstop’ proposal unveiled by Teresa May, aimed at avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
France says June is ‘ultimate deadline’ for Brexit progress on Irish border
A June summit of European Union leaders is the "ultimate deadline" to make progress on issues related to Northern Ireland's border, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday (13 May).
Irish negotiator says ‘challenging’ to bring effect to Brexit border agreement
It will be extremely challenging to give effect to the commitments made by the British government on the future of Northern Ireland's border, one of Ireland's lead Brexit negotiators said yesterday (17 January).
UK rejects Irish call for role in Northern Ireland rule
Britain rejected a call on Tuesday (5 September) by the Irish foreign minister for Dublin to be given a role in the running of Northern Ireland if parties fail to revive the devolved power-sharing government, saying it would "never countenance" joint authority.
Reformers call for new thinking on ways to finance the CAP
Under pressure from farm ministers and food producers, the European Commission is working to simplify agricultural rules that took effect this year. But some analysts say what the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) really needs is a radical change in the way it is financed.
Simon Coveney: CAP simplification will ease the burden on farmers
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was a lead negotiator of the 2014-2020 Common Agricultural Policy during his country’s EU presidency in the first half of 2013.
Farmers, green groups line up in final push for CAP
EU farm ministers are meeting Monday (24 June) for their latest round of negotiations on the post-2013 Common Agricultural Policy, under pressure to hammer out an agreement in time for a parliamentary vote next month. EURACTIV reports from Luxembourg.