From 31 August to 2 September 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will pay a working visit to Ireland, where she will participate in the informal meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers, also known as the Gymnich meeting. The meeting will take place in Wicklow on 1–2 September. The ministers will discuss continued support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and strengthening the EU’s external activities and influence.
During her visit, Baiba Braže will meet in Dublin with representatives of the Latvian diaspora in Ireland, as well as the Chairman of the Irish Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, John Lahart, and members of the committee. The Minister will also deliver a speech and participate in a discussion entitled “Latvia’s EU Priorities”, organised by the Institute of International & European Affairs in Ireland.
Registration for participation in the online discussion is available here.
The informal meeting known as the Gymnich meeting is a regular gathering of EU foreign ministers, organised every six months by the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU. It is chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The meetings focus on strategic discussions on the objectives of EU foreign and security policy and the ways to achieve them. No binding decisions are made during Gymnich meetings. They provide ministers with an opportunity to discuss current issues in an informal setting.
More information on the agenda for this meeting is available on the Presidency’s website.