Overview
- Ireland began its six‑month rotating presidency on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and will hold the role until December 31, 2026, running a programme of 22 informal ministerial meetings, an informal EU leaders' summit in November, two high‑level conferences and more than 250 other events.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin made Ireland's 'Single Europe, Single Market' roadmap a core priority and pledged continued, unwavering support for Ukraine during the presidency.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said there are high chances of opening the remaining five EU accession negotiating clusters in July and is scheduled to attend Dublin's inauguration events and a joint conference with the Irish prime minister at Dublin Castle.
- Dublin plans to use high‑profile meetings and a broad cultural programme in Dublin, Brussels and other capitals to push regulatory simplification, deepen the single market, lower energy costs, accelerate decarbonisation and promote AI and digital transformation.
- Ireland's term builds on Cyprus's earlier progress, including the opening of Ukraine's first negotiating cluster and activation of a €90 billion support package, and could speed Kyiv's path to EU accession while shaping future sanctions, defence cooperation and trade ties.