Overview
- Ireland formally took the six-month rotating Council presidency at a Dublin Castle ceremony on July 1, which was attended by EU Council President António Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Zelensky used the launch to press for the rapid opening of up to five remaining EU accession negotiation clusters and proposed a European 'Drone Deal' that includes an anti-ballistic initiative he invited Ireland to join.
- The Irish Government has ringfenced €125 million for presidency security, sped up a €19 million purchase of counter-drone equipment and put an Garda policing operations in place around key venues for the six-month term.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Zelensky that a probe into alumina exports from the Aughinish refinery is 'nearing completion' and said Ireland may take the findings to the European Commission to resolve concerns about supply chains.
- Ireland must secure unanimous positions from 27 member states on enlargement and the seven-year budget, a task complicated by political objections from some capitals and one that will determine whether Kyiv’s accession momentum is sustained this term.