The Diplomat
Spain and Ireland agreed yesterday that it is necessary to accelerate the pace of supply of the vaccine against COVID-19, according to a note distributed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the end of a meeting by videoconference held by the Secretary of State for the EU, Juan González-Barba with his Irish counterpart, Thomas Byrne.
The note points out that González-Barba and Byrne analyzed the pandemic situation in their respective countries and the European response in both the health and economic fields.
Although both expressed their support for the European vaccine program, they insisted on the need to increase the pace of vaccine supply.
In addition – the note indicates – the two Secretaries of State considered “satisfactory” the agreement on the Brexit reached between the EU and the United Kingdom on December 24 and analyzed the impact on Spain and Ireland, which are two of the EU countries most affected at the citizen and commercial level.
González-Barba and Byrne agreed that the priority at the moment is to minimize the disruption for both Spanish and Irish citizens and companies. In the same vein, they also exchanged views on the Adjustment Reserve and the implications of Brexit for Gibraltar and Northern Ireland, the Ministry’s note indicates.
At the meeting they addressed other current EU issues, such as the Conference on the Future of Europe, the EU-MERCOSUR Agreement or the future of transatlantic relations after the arrival of Joe Biden in the White House.
Finally, they reviewed the main aspects of bilateral relations, with special emphasis on economic and trade relations. González-Barba also highlighted the intensity of relations between the citizens of both countries.
