'This is Europe' debate in the European Parliament: Speech by Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, 8 June 2022

'This is Europe' – an initiative proposed by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola – consists of a series of debates with EU leaders to discuss their visions for the future of the European Union. Following the first speech in this series by the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, on 3 May 2022, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Micheál Martin, was the second EU leader to address the Parliament, on 8 June.1 Mr Martin suggested numerous ways to strengthen and further develop the Union, notably by increasing its budget. He also expressed his support for Treaty change, if necessary, as well as for Ukraine's application for EU membership, and stressed the need to protect EU values and apply EU laws.