Europe live with Jakub KrupaEurope Ireland set to take presidency of EU in Dublin opening ceremony – Europe live Ireland’s tasks at helm of bloc include help navigate talks on fresh Russia sanctions, and Ukraine and Moldova accession LIVE Updated 41s ago Jakub Krupa Wed 1 Jul 2026 09.24 BSTFirst published on Wed 1 Jul 2026 09.12 BST Share Key events 28s ago Ukraine could join EU during war with Russia, but it will be 'merit-based' process, Irish PM says 12m ago Morning opening: Ireland takes presidency of the EU Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Photograph: Olivier Matthys/EPA Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Photograph: Olivier Matthys/EPA Key events 28s ago Ukraine could join EU during war with Russia, but it will be 'merit-based' process, Irish PM says 12m ago Morning opening: Ireland takes presidency of the EU Ireland’s prime minister Micheál Martin suggested Ukraine could join the EU even during the war with Russia.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Martin said the process will be conducted on “a merit-based approach,” and insisted the EU “wants the war to end,” but the accession could still happen during the conflict.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected in Dublin today as part of the presidency ceremony.
He also told RTÉ that Ireland wants to reach a political agreement on the next EU budget “by the end of the year,” but he acknowledged it would be “a mammoth task.” But he said the budget will not include more spending on defence than agriculture.
“Some [member states] who want to spend more, some who want to spend less, quite a significant number who want to protect the common agricultural policy, cohesion funding, and then new areas like competitiveness funding and research, additional money for research funding, which actually is the key to new products and new ideas of the future.” Ireland is set to take over the rotating presidency of the European Union today at a ceremony at Dublin Castle attended by some of the EU’s top figures – and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Security at the entrance to Dublin Castle in Dublin, Ireland.
Photograph: Bryan Meade/EPA An opening ceremony will take place 2pm local time, followed by a press conference.
I will bring you all the key lines here.
It has been 13 years since its last chaired the works of the bloc, and the to do list is only longer this time round.
EU member states will be looking at Ireland to help navigate political talks on new sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine, as well as tricky accession talks with Moldova, Ukraine and other candidates.
But critics also ask some tough questions on Ireland’s credibility to lead the bloc’s work on digital given so many of US Big Tech companies – so fiercely defended by Donald Trump - are headquartered in the country.
