Taoiseach hopes to help Ukraine make ‘historic’ progress on EU bid during presidency

Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has stated his government's intention to facilitate "substantial, historic" progress for Ukraine's European Union accession during Ireland's upcoming presidency of the EU Council. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Martin emphasized the need for Europe to defend the rule of law and democracy amidst systemic challenges. Ireland's presidency, a six-month role focused on brokering compromises and guiding the EU agenda, will prioritize discussions on the EU's future enlargement. Martin specifically aims to complete accession negotiations with Montenegro and achieve significant progress with Moldova and Ukraine. The Ukrainian government hopes that the five remaining "clusters" of negotiating chapters, covering essential reforms, will be opened during Ireland's tenure. Ireland also backs "tighter and stronger" economic sanctions against Russia to impede its ongoing war. Martin addressed the complexities of the EU's common budget negotiations, noting that discussions often become a "zero-sum" struggle between existing funding schemes and new demands. He criticized the EU's tendency to impose high expectations without adequate funding. A major challenge for the Irish presidency will be securing a political agreement on the EU's next seven-year budget by year's end. The proposed €1.7 trillion budget faces criticism from fiscally conservative states for its size and from net beneficiary countries for being too limited. Martin also commented on the "increasingly extreme" behavior of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's government and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating that "no democratic or humanitarian values" justify the scale of death and destruction. He acknowledged the conflict's sensitivity for some EU members but stressed the necessity for the EU to exert more pressure on Israel. The Taoiseach also paid tribute to John Hume, a significant figure in Irish history and the only MEP to win the Nobel Peace Prize while serving.

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We will aim to complete accession negotiations with Montenegro, to make substantial, historic progress with Moldova and Ukraine.