UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has accepted an invitation to attend a meeting of EU finance ministers in Dublin this September, Ireland’s Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris has announced.
Mr Harris met Ms Reeves in London on Monday, where they discussed the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as well as the positive cooperation between Ireland and the UK. The meeting also touched on the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Mr Harris said he invited Ms Reeves to address the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) during Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year. “I think it’s important that senior British politicians like Chancellor Reeves are invited to that during the Irish presidency,” he told reporters.
The Tanaiste also met Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during his visit. He described the meetings as a “really important opportunity to take stock” of the UK-Ireland trading relationship, which is worth two billion euros per week.
Mr Harris expressed disappointment that the UK did not secure membership of the EU’s Security Action for Europe (Safe) defence fund, but said he wants to see “real progress” in UK-EU relations in 2026.
