Ireland set to take presidency of EU in Dublin opening ceremony – Europe live

Ukraine could join EU during war with Russia, but it will be 'merit-based' process, Irish PM says

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.”

Morning opening: Ireland takes presidency of the EU

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.

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.

Elsewhere, Nato’s Mark Rutte will be in Berlin today, as he tours EU capitals ahead of next week’s Nato summit in Ankara.

I will bring you all the latest.

It’s Wednesday, 1 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.