Ireland has assumed the presidency of the Council of the EU
On July 1, 2026, Ireland officially began its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, taking over this role from Cyprus. Over the next six months, the country will coordinate the work of the Council of the EU and promote key European initiatives.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin emphasized that the presidency will focus on strengthening security, the economy, and European values.
“We are committed to doing our job well for the benefit of the EU and its citizens, and throughout our term we will strive to make the Union more prosperous and secure, as well as uphold our shared fundamental values,” he said.
Among the main priorities of the Irish presidency are:
- implementing the “One Europe, One Market” Roadmap;
- simplifying regulations for businesses and citizens;
- further deepening the EU single market;
- protecting open and fair international trade;
- reducing energy costs and decarbonizing the economy;
- the development of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
“This will be a top priority for the Irish Presidency, and we will work closely and cooperatively with Member States, the European Parliament, and the European Commission to achieve as much progress as possible,” Martin said.
Ireland will pay special attention to supporting Ukraine during its presidency. The prime minister emphasized that the European Union will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people.
“They deserve a just and lasting peace,” said Micheál Martin, highlighting the courage of the Ukrainian people in defending their country.
In addition, Ireland plans to actively support countries seeking to join the European Union, helping them advance on the path to European integration and strengthening stability and prosperity in the region.
Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU will last until January 1, 2027, after which the next country will assume the presidency in accordance with the rotation schedule.
As a reminder, Ireland advocates for increasing sanctions pressure on Russia and supports steps aimed at achieving lasting peace in Ukraine.
The Irish government is developing a new strategy to support Ukrainian refugees, which fundamentally changes the mechanism for providing financial assistance.
