Fuel Protests Force Cancellation of 22 Irish Advisers' EU Presidency Briefing in Brussels
A trip for 22 Irish Government advisers to Brussels for EU presidency briefings was cancelled last month. The European Commission paid for the visit, but 18 advisers withdrew due to domestic fuel protests. Ireland assumes the EU presidency in July, and there are no plans to reschedule the preparatory trip.
A planned trip for 22 Irish Government advisers to Brussels for briefings ahead of Ireland's EU presidency was cancelled last month. The European Commission's office in Ireland arranged and paid for the two-day visit, scheduled for April 13th to 15th, to prepare advisers for their role in the upcoming presidency, which Ireland assumes in July.
The cancellation occurred because 18 of the 22 ministerial aides pulled out due to escalating fuel protests in Ireland. These protests blocked key motorways and roads, leading the Government to assemble a €750 million fuel support package. An April 10th email from a commission official noted the initial dropouts, and by April 13th, the day of departure, the trip was entirely scrapped. A commission spokesman confirmed no plans to reschedule due to the proximity of Ireland's EU presidency start.