EU foreign ministers to discuss Tunisia terror attack

Prime minister Habib Essid in Brussels to discuss security after incident saw 38 die

Flowers on the beach near the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse, Tunisia, where 38 people lost their lives after a gunman stormed the beach last month. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Wire.
Flowers on the beach near the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse, Tunisia, where 38 people lost their lives after a gunman stormed the beach last month. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Wire.

European Union foreign ministers are to discuss the recent terror attack in Tunisia, in which 38 tourists were killed, when they meet on Monday.

The ministers will also discuss the outcome of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear plans and the Middle East Peace Process.

Three Irish people were among those killed when a male Islamic militant opened fire on a beach at Sousse in Tunisia. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The ministers, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, will discuss the incident with Tunisian prime minister Habib Essid and foreign minister Taïeb Baccouche.

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Mr Flanagan said counter-terrorism was a critical priority for his colleagues in Europe.

“Today, EU foreign ministers will agree a comprehensive range of measures to support Tunisian security, stability and growth,” he said.

Tunisian politicians will visit the UK on Monday to meet families of Britons killed in the terror attack on a beach resort and to urge the UK to lift official advice against travel to the Mediterranean holiday destination.

Meanwhile, European justice ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the migrant crisis and a relocation programme.

The Government has agreed to accept up to 600 additional Syrian and Eritrean migrants over the next two years as part of plan to deal with the crisis in the Mediterranean.

This is in addition to 520 migrants the State is accepting as part of a separate resettlement initiative for migrants residing outside the EU.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald travels to Luxembourg for the meeting at which agreement is expected to be reached on a new EU plan to redistribute migrants arriving in Italy and Greece across other member states.