Ireland, which will take over the Presidency of the EU Council on 1 July, has made security one of its Presidency’s three main themes, along with competitiveness and values.
Following an informal ministerial meeting on 31 July and 1 September in Wicklow, European defence ministers are due to meet again on 28 September and 17 November in formal EU Council meetings in Brussels.
“In support of a more resilient and secure Europe, the Irish Presidency will ensure a coherent, inclusive and coordinated approach to the Union’s defence and security agenda, supporting the EU’s focus on the development of critical defence capabilities”, the Presidency stresses in its programme.
The country, which is not a member of NATO, will need to make progress on several defence-related issues. These will include securing Interinstitutional Agreements on the AGILE programme and on military mobility (see EUROPE 13896/20, 13894/6).
The Presidency will work to build consensus among the states, particularly regarding European defence projects of common interest, “ensuring they deliver for all Member States”. The list of projects - expected to number between four and six - could be released in the coming days.
Ireland will also work on the revision of the Defence Procurement Directive “seeking to strengthen the efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness of EU defence procurement, and to incentivise and streamline joint procurement”. This revision is expected in the autumn.
Also next autumn, at the October European Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the EU will unveil the first annual report on defence preparedness.
Regarding Ukraine, Ireland intends to advocate for the country’s full integration into EU defence initiatives, with the same access as Member States, and supports the strategic review of the EU Military Assistance Mission EUMAM Ukraine.
Like Cyprus, the previous Presidency, Ireland, itself also an island, wants to make maritime security a priority. This will include taking measures to counter the Russian shadow fleet and supporting the mid-term review of the EU’s Maritime Security Strategy, which will take place in the second half of 2026.
Dublin also wants to focus on increasing resilience, particularly to hybrid threats, and work on the security of critical infrastructure and strengthening cybersecurity. It will encourage a more strategic implementation of the cyber diplomacy toolbox and strengthen collaboration with its partners.
The Presidency wants to highlight the central role of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and its essential contribution to the Union’s security. In anticipation of the expiry of the Civilian CSDP Compact in 2027, the Presidency will facilitate the definition and direction of EU decisions regarding the future strategy of this instrument.
Member States are also currently considering a mission to Lebanon to help train the armed forces, a mission long requested by Ireland (see EUROPE 13698/4).
The Presidency intends to make progress on the new ‘European Security Strategy’ a priority. Publication of this strategy by the Commission and the High Representative is still pending and could take place in September, having previously been announced for July.
“We will promote close cooperation with like-minded non-EU states, the UN, OSCE and NATO”, the Irish also promise. Ireland will thus oversee the parallel and co-ordinated EU-NATO ‘Resolve’ exercises, scheduled for November 2026, and will work to complete the ‘Preparedness Union Strategy’. “We will support projection of the EU’s strengths in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, crisis management, and sustaining peace. This will highlight that dialogue and mediation are essential elements of a comprehensive security strategy, alongside deterrence and defence”, the Presidency programme stresses.
Space. The Irish Presidency will focus on strengthening the competitiveness of the European space sector as a “strategic growth area”. To this end, it intends to leverage the potential of a single space market, foster innovation, support the growth of SMEs and enable the development of space companies.
The Presidency intends to advance work on the EU Space Services Agency Regulation and the difficult work on the ‘EU Space Act’.
A ‘Competitiveness’ Council (Research and space) is scheduled for 4 December.
See the Presidency programme: https://aeur.eu/f/mgz ; and the draft agendas: https://aeur.eu/f/mml (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)