CCBS in attendance as Taoiseach honours new President of the European Commission

CCBS Director, Anthony Soares, was among the guests at a dinner given on the 15^th of January in the State Apartments at Dublin Castle by the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, in honour of the President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen. This was a significant moment coming only weeks before the UK’s official departure from the European Union, and the coming into force of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. While the Taoiseach reflected on Ireland’s place within the European Union, the Commission President commented on the enormous progress Ireland had made over recent years, and both of them highlighted the importance of mutual support to overcome challenges such as Brexit and climate change.