Harris to try and persuade other states to recognise Palestine 

Simon Harris said he was intending to use the opportunity to talk to other colleagues about the possibility of other countries wishing to move with Ireland and with Spain to recognise the state of Palestine. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

The Taoiseach has said he will try to convince more countries to join Ireland and Spain in recognising Palestine.

Simon Harris is attending a special European Council meeting in Brussels, just days after he and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez met in Dublin, pledging to work in lockstep to recognise a Palestinian state. 

After that meeting, Mr Harris said the time for recognition was getting closer and both countries are expected to formally recognise Palestine by June.

Speaking to journalists as he arrived at the Europa Building in the Belgian capital, Mr Harris said he would use the opportunity to attempt to persuade likeminded countries to join Ireland and Spain.

"I will use this opportunity to engage with European counterparts on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, of course the need for the release of hostages, but also about the need for a number of European states to now move ahead and recognise the state of Palestine. I think this is an important thing to do.

The Taoiseach said he was intending to use the opportunity to talk to other colleagues about the possibility of other countries wishing to move with Ireland and with Spain to recognise the state of Palestine.

"Because, ultimately, if you believe in a two-state solution, I believe that such positive momentum could be important."

European leaders were on Wednesday discussing text of a declaration from all 27 member states that calls for an immediate ceasefire. Mr Harris said he supports an expansion of EU-wide sanctions against Iran in response to its firing of missiles and drones at Israel.

"We have very clearly condemned the actions of Iran. It was a large-scale and reckless attack and we need to now see de-escalation.

"I think the European position that is emerging  is one that needs to be focused on de-escalation. It's one that needs to appeal to all parties to show restraint because anything other than de-escalation results in very significant catastrophes and bloodshed for many millions of people in a region that is already unstable.

On Ukraine, Mr Harris said that there is no formal proposal for so-called "Eurobonds" but said that there needed to be caution about the overall level of financial leveraging of the EU, adding that there is already massive resources committed to green and digital transition. However, Mr Harris said that there is scope to use the "windfalls" of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.