7 July 2026 11:12 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission welcomes Irish Presidency, outlines priorities

Key points

Welcomes incoming Irish Presidency; priorities align with Commission agenda
Urges faster completion of the Single Market and key files; reiterates continued support for Ukraine

TL;DR

European Commission welcomes the incoming Irish Presidency and says its priorities align with the Commission's agenda around competitiveness, values, and security.
European Commission urges faster completion of the Single Market and lists initiatives and open files including the Public Procurement Act, Circular Economy Act, Savings and Investments Union, Industrial Accelerator Act, EU Inc. Regulation, and four omnibus proposals (digital, environmental, automotive, food and feed).
European Commission expects political agreement on the European Grids Package by Q3 and will present an Energy Package including grid charges, an electrification plan, an ETS review, and benchmarks.
European Commission says it will continue ambitious trade work under the Irish Presidency and cites ongoing negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, and seeks Council approval and Parliament consent for agreements with India and Indonesia.
European Commission reiterates continued support for Ukraine militarily, economically, and politically, welcomes the Presidency's work on the 21st sanctions package, and emphasizes security and defence files (defence industry, military mobility, drones).
European Commission calls for prompt implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and aims to find agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework by the end of the year.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Šefčovič at the European Parliament plenary debate on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Irish Presidency Strasbourg, 7 July 2026 Dear President, Dear Taoiseach, Dear Minister, Honourable Members, My dear colleague Commissioner McGrath. I want to start by welcoming the incoming Irish Presidency. I am happy to note that Ireland's priorities for their Presidency are very much in line with the Commission's agenda. This starts with the closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing core themes, of competitiveness, values, and security. To consider them in turn. Europe must act urgently to enhance its competitiveness and productivity, in order to deliver a secure economic future which meets the needs and expectations of its people. To this end, the Irish Presidency will play a central role in delivering on the ‘One Europe, One Market' Roadmap, which the three institutions signed in April. We are on our way to fulfil our commitment to complete the Single Market by the end of next year. But we must move faster. During the Irish Presidency, we expect to come forward with important initiatives, including the Public Procurement Act, and the Circular Economy Act. But we also need to close existing files, including the Savings and Investments Union, the Industrial Accelerator Act and the EU Inc. Regulation. When it comes to simplification, we need to close the four remaining omnibus proposals – namely digital, environmental, automotive, and food and feed. In addition, last month we presented two more omnibuses, on energy and taxation, with another on citizens to follow still this year. We now count on the co-legislators to take the work on open files forward swiftly. Another key element of competitiveness is energy prices, where Europeans and European businesses alike expect action. We need to maintain our momentum if we are to meet the target of reaching political agreement on the European Grids Package, put forward by the Commission last December, by the third quarter of this year. Looking ahead, next week we will present an Energy Package with a proposal on grid charges and an electrification plan. As well as an ETS review and a proposal on benchmarks. I also welcome that our ambitious trade policy agenda will continue to gather pace under the Irish Presidency. We look forward to furthering our joint work with the Presidency and with you, Honourable Members, on issues including the implementation of the EU-U.S. Trade and Investment agenda. And the ongoing trade negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. I am also counting on the Council to approve the signing of the agreements with India and Indonesia, and for the Parliament to proceed with its swift consent, so that they can enter into force, allowing for the full benefits to be enjoyed as quickly as possible. Dear Taoiseach. As I informed you last week in Cork at our coordination session, we work in a constructive way with our UK partners to further strengthen our relationship. And as I reassured you there, and I reassure you here, we will always keep Ireland and Northern Ireland on our minds. Turning to the second overarching priority, values. Our values remain the cornerstone of the European project, and we very much welcome that the Irish Presidency has placed them at the heart of its programme. Over the next six months, there will be a great deal of work to deliver on the European Democracy Shield, defend the rule of law, and advance citizens' rights, including online – and especially when it comes to children. Our values are also part of what makes joining the European Union so attractive, and the prospect of enlargement is once again very much on the table. I will never forget the day, in May 2004, when the EU took the historic step of admitting ten new Member States, Slovakia among them. Nor will I forget that it was in Phoenix Park in Dublin, with Ireland then holding the Presidency of the Council, where these ten Member States were officially welcomed into the Union. So we count on the experience, expertise, and knowhow of the current Irish Presidency to advance negotiations with today's candidate countries. And further afield, to contribute to our efforts on the global stage, including in our work to help secure a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Third, security and defence. The Irish Presidency will lead our continued support for Ukraine. This is also an investment in our own security. We must maintain our support to Ukraine across all fronts: militarily, economically, and politically. At the same time, we continue to put pressure on Russia. I welcome the work of the Presidency on the 21st sanctions package, including the commitment to reach an agreement by next week. On security and defence more widely, we count on the Irish Presidency to steer work on key files in this area, including our defence industry, military mobility, and drones. On migration, this is a European challenge which must be met with a European response. We should now focus our efforts on the prompt implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum as a priority. Madam President, dear Taoiseach, Honourable Members. Lastly, I want to briefly mention the future Multiannual Financial Framework. Our aim is to find an agreement by the end of the year, and while this is a complex and challenging topic, I am glad that the Irish Presidency has received a strong mandate from the European Council to continue the work on this. Thank you, and I look forward to the debate. SPEECH/26/1547

European Commission welcomes Irish Presidency, outlines priorities

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