UK Minister attends EU development ministers' meeting for first time since Brexit
UKPulse News Desk
UK Minister for International Development and Africa, Kirsty McNeill, attended a meeting of EU development ministers in Dublin, marking the first UK presence at this format since Brexit.
- Kirsty McNeill, UK Minister for International Development and Africa, attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Development in Dublin.
- This is the first time the UK has participated in this format of EU development ministers' meeting since leaving the EU.
- The UK Government is committed to building a closer relationship with European partners, with the Prime Minister stating Brexit has done more harm than good.
Kirsty McNeill, the UK Minister for International Development and Africa, attended a meeting of EU development ministers in Dublin today, 9 October 2026. This marks the first time the UK has been present at this format since its departure from the European Union.
During her speech at the Institute of International and European Affairs, McNeill thanked the Irish Government and the European Union for the invitation. She highlighted the UK Government's commitment to fostering a closer relationship with European partners, referencing a statement by the Prime Minister that Brexit has caused more harm than good.
McNeill noted that formal development discussions with the European Commission have restarted, and teams in Brussels are collaborating more closely. A second UK-EU Summit is anticipated later this year.
Why this matters: This event signifies a step towards closer UK-EU cooperation on international development post-Brexit, following the UK Prime Minister's assessment that Brexit has caused more harm than good.