EU Heads of Mission Visit to Frankfurt

Our Presidency programming continued in July when Ambassador Collins hosted EU Ambassadors to Germany in Frankfurt. The programme had a particular focus on advancing the European competitiveness agenda, which is one or Ireland’s three priorities for our Presidency term, along with strengthening Europe’s security and protecting our shared European values.

First, Ambassador Collins hosted a working lunch, at which President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Prof. Dr. Joachim Nagel, outlined his view on where Europe should focus its efforts to best strengthen the competitiveness of our economy.

After a quick photo stop at Frankfurt’s famous Euro sign, the Ambassadors travelled to the European Central Bank for discussions with President Christine Lagarde, Philip Lane and Sharon Donnery and a briefing on the Digital Euro, a key file that Ireland is working to advance during our Presidency.

At the end of the day, the delegation of Ambassadors attended the opening of ‘Sharing Horizons’, a wonderful exhibition of Irish art from the collections of the Central Bank of Ireland and the ECB, which is on display at the ECB to coincide with Ireland’s EU Presidency. A digital exhibition catalogue is available here.

In addition to speeches from President Lagarde, Central Bank of Ireland Governor Gabriel Makhlouf and Ambassador Collins, guests were also treated to performances of traditional Irish music and dance from the Uniceltics and Enbarr’s Flight.

Thank you to President Lagarde, Governor Makhlouf, Philip Lane, Sharon Donnery, Fiona van Echelpoel, curator Niamh Anna Coughlan and all of the team members involved in this fantastic showcase of Irish art and identity here in Frankfurt.