Ireland assumes presidency of EU Council

Ireland officially assumed, on Wednesday, July 1, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. At the launch ceremony held at Dublin Castle, the President of the EU Council, António Costa, reaffirmed the Union’s support for advancing the accession negotiations of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

The event was hosted by Ireland’s Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, and brought together the President of the EU Council, António Costa, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, current and former European and Irish officials, ambassadors accredited to Ireland, and other dignitaries. The Republic of Moldova was represented by the chargé d’affaires ad interim in Ireland, Larisa Miculeț.

In his speech, António Costa stated that 2026 will be dedicated to strengthening European competitiveness and highlighted Ireland as an example for promoting the “One Europe, One Market” agenda. At the same time, the European official reiterated the European Union’s support for continuing the enlargement process and opening negotiations on new clusters of chapters with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.



President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the European Union has both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to stability, productivity, and the respect for human dignity across the entire continent.



Over the six months of its mandate at the helm of the Council of the European Union, Ireland will organize 22 informal ministerial meetings, a meeting of the European Political Community, and an informal meeting of the Council of the European Union.


“Officials of the Republic of Moldova are expected to participate in some of the events that will take place in Ireland over the next six months. The Republic of Moldova continues to express its confidence in the support of the member states of the European Union, including Ireland, for advancing its European agenda and for deepening cooperation with the European Union,” the statement of the Embassy of Ireland in Chisinau reads.


In the first half of this year, the Presidency of the EU Council was held by Cyprus. Ireland, with a population of 5.4 million inhabitants, joined the European Community in 1973 and is holding the six‑month rotating Presidency of the Council for the eighth time.