Overview
- Ireland began its six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, with an opening ceremony in Dublin attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Prime Minister Mícheál Martin set a 'Single Europe, single market' roadmap that targets regulatory simplification, lower energy costs, decarbonisation, AI and digital reform.
- European Council President António Costa framed the next six months as a continuation of a 'double strategy' of sustained political and financial backing for Ukraine together with stepped-up pressure on Russia.
- Zelensky said there are high chances the EU could open the remaining five negotiation clusters for Ukraine in July and argued that Ukrainian combat-tested air and maritime defence expertise is vital for European security.
- Ireland will host an intensive calendar of diplomacy and culture, including 22 informal ministerial meetings, an informal leaders' summit in November, two ministerial conferences and more than 250 events to advance enlargement, security cooperation and internal EU reforms.