03/07/2026
Yesterday, 2 July, the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union were presented by H.E Ambassador Ciara O’Floinn at a meeting of EU Ambassadors at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Athens. Ireland’s Presidency term, which began on 1 July, marks the start of the eighteen month “Trio Presidency” of Ireland, Greece and Lithuania.
The event featured the ceremonial handing over of the baton from the outgoing Cyprus Presidency by H.E Ambassador Stavros Avgoustides, marking a successful Cyprus Presidency of the EU.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, H.E Tasos Chatzivasileiou, on behalf of the Greek Government, participated in the meeting. The Deputy Minister conveyed Greece’s best wishes for the Presidency and outlined the programme of work that will flow through the Trio Presidency, including the Greek EU Presidency in 2027.
Over the next six months, Ireland’s EU Presidency will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the EU economy, safeguarding the values of the European Union both at home and abroad, and ensuring the security of the Union and its citizens. The core themes that will guide the work of the Presidency – competitiveness, values and security – are interlocking and mutually reinforcing. The Irish Presidency will also take forward work in a number of important areas which cut across these core themes, including ongoing support for Ukraine, EU enlargement, global engagement and relations with key partners, and securing the basis for the future work of the Union through the negotiation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
