Leo Varadkar has joined with the 27 EU leaders in moving ahead with a new commitment to the European project without Britain.
With Brexit looming, the language in the new document emphasises the strengthening and growth of EU ties.
While not mentioning Brexit, it is made clear that the EU is ready to move away from Britain.
Britain’s new deadline for exiting the EU is now October 31st, Halloween.
And there was no sign of any further concessions being considered to help the UK get Brexit over the line by the EU on Thursday.
Instead, it was the exact opposite, with the Council discussions all about everything else apart from Brexit.
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This solidarity can be read as a sign to the British that Brexit is still their problem and the EU won’t be budging, especially on the backstop.
The Taoiseach and the other EU big beasts, including French and German leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, signed the Sibiu declaration.
It sets out ten principles which the EU Council of all the State’s leaders have unanimously agreed on.
They emphasise the union’s strength and growing power in the world, all without mentioning Brexit diminishing this in any way.
The joint declaration says: “Since its inception, the European Union, driven by its values and freedoms, has provided stability and prosperity across Europe, within and beyond its borders. “Over the years, it has grown into a major player on the international scene.
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“Gathering around half a billion citizens, with a competitive single market, it is a leader in worldwide trade, and shapes global politics.
“We reaffirm our belief that united, we are stronger in this increasingly unsettled and challenging world.
“We recognise our responsibility as Leaders to make our Union stronger and our future brighter, while recognising the European perspective of other European States.
“That is why today we unanimously agree on 10 commitments that will help us live up to that responsibility.”
This week’s informal summit was the last meeting of EU leaders before the European Parliament elections all over Europe at the end of this month.
There is normally little interest in the European parliament elections in Ireland, but with Brexit of such importance to us, there is fresh interest in the elections this time around.
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It is not only the parliament where there will be huge change, as term limits are also up for the commissioners of the EU, including our own Phil Hogan.
It is believed the Agriculture Commissioner wants another go in the Commission, but that decision ultimately lies with the Taoiseach.
The post comes with a salary of over a quarter of a million euro, plus the usual generous expenses package European politicians are accustomed to.
Time is also up for EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker.
These are considered to be the two most powerful positions in the EU and the electioneering by candidates looking to replace them began in earnest at this week’s summit.
