Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ireland is “honoured” to take up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time this year, as the government sets out its priorities for the six months in the chair from July until December of this year.
The Taoiseach revealed that hosting the presidency would cost Irish taxpayers up to €185 million excluding security costs.
Micheál Martin said every EU member state was obliged to host and insisted that Ireland would benefit from chairing the Council of the European Union.
The government says its programme for the six months will be centred around economic competitiveness, security and cooperation.
Micheál Martin warned the EU faces “greater uncertainty and unpredictability in the world” and pledged Ireland would work to make the Union “more prosperous and more secure” while upholding fundamental European values.
He welcomed the designation of 2026 as “the European year of competitiveness” and said his Presidency will prioritise delivery of the “One Europe, One Market” Roadmap to strengthen the single market, simplify regulation, champion fair and open trade, lower energy costs while decarbonising the economy, and drive AI and digital transformation.
The government has also announced plans for initiatives to protect children online, bolster European security and continue “strong support” for Ukraine.
The Taoiseach said Ukraine deserves “a just and lasting peace.”
He added Ireland will back countries seeking EU membership to promote stability and prosperity in the neighbourhood, and will defend the Union’s core values of freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human dignity.
“Ireland’s Presidency will be guided by a clear commitment to delivery, cooperation and the values that underpin our Union,” said Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“The principle of ní neart go cur le chéile – strength through unity – reflects both the spirit of the European project and the approach Ireland will bring to the Presidency.”