Written Answers Nos. 1-2
1. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her attention has been brough to the case of a person (details supplied); if her Department will commit to observing the trial to ensure that Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights is adhered to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35369/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that I am aware of this case and that officials in my Department, including in the Consulate General in Munich, are providing ongoing consular assistance to this citizen and their family.
A dedicated consular officer in the Consulate has been assigned to support the family of this citizen and has provided support and advice to the citizen and their family in accordance with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. I can further confirm that staff in the Consulate General in Munich, including the Consul General and Deputy Consul General, have undertaken four consular visits to the citizen, the most recent on 10 April 2026. I wish to assure the Deputy that officials in my Department will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the citizen.
As laid out in the Consular Assistance Charter, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassies and Consulates, are precluded from intervening in the judicial and legal processes of another country.
Through the Consulate in Munich, and the Irish Embassy in Berlin, my Department will continue to follow developments in relation to this matter closely and I have asked that they keep me updated accordingly.
2. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on the accession of Armenia to the European Union following the European Parliament's resolution noting that Armenia could apply for membership if it meets the Copenhagen criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35584/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on a matter regarding enlargement of the European Union (details provided); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35585/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
Ireland strongly supports EU enlargement which will be a key priority of our upcoming EU Presidency.
Ireland and Armenia have strong bilateral relations and we work together in the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Taoiseach visited Yerevan earlier this month to attend the eighth European Political Community Summit.
Ireland welcomes the strengthening relationship between the EU and Armenia.
On 5 May, the EU and Armenia held their first ever summit. The Joint Declaration which was issued following that meeting acknowledged the European aspirations of the Armenian people, rooted in the adoption of the Law on Launching Armenia’s EU accession process of March 2025, expressing Armenia’s intention to move towards the EU. The Joint Declaration also states that any decision on EU membership is a matter for the people of Armenia to decide freely and democratically.
Ireland welcomes the growing EU-Armenia cooperation which is outlined in the Joint Declaration, which focusses on connectivity and support for energy, transport and digital infrastructure. The EU-Armenia Connectivity Partnership which was signed on 5 May in Yerevan underlines Armenia’s role as a vital partner in the ‘middle corridor’ connectivity project through the South Caucasus. These agreements serve as a building block to further strengthen EU-Armenia relations.
The EU-Armenia partnership is based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership adopted in December 2025. The €270 million, four-year EU Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia, announced in 2024, supports Armenia's socio-economic resilience through three pillars: investing in connectivity and business, bringing Armenia closer to the EU, and fostering a resilient and inclusive Armenian society.
The Treaty on the European Union states that any European country may apply for EU membership if it respects the democratic values of the EU and is committed to promoting them. Ireland believes that all European countries deserve the opportunity to join the EU, once they meet all necessary criteria. All candidate countries are currently required to abide by the accession criteria known as the "Copenhagen criteria" and are required to align with EU standards across all negotiating chapters. These are points which the European Parliament resolution of March 2024 addresses.
