Irish Presidency: Security, Competitiveness and Values on the EU Agenda
Ireland chairs the Council of the European Union until 31 December, with competitiveness, values and security as its priorities. Ireland's ambassador to Latvia explains what this means for Latvia, including talks on the EU budget for 2028–2034.
Ireland holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December, with competitiveness, values and security as its main priorities. In an opinion piece for the Latvian newspaper Kurzemnieks, Ireland's ambassador to Latvia says these areas are interlinked and also affect Latvia. The presidency means chairing the council of EU member states, during which negotiations on new legislation are advanced.
Priorities and how they connect
The ambassador says that developing clean energy and technology can help Europe become more competitive and cut costs. Limiting climate change and protecting the environment also bear on security. In her view, biodiversity must be protected and attention paid to the most vulnerable groups in society, who feel the effects of environmental degradation most severely. She stresses that the presidency works for all EU citizens, not only for Ireland.
What matters most for Latvia
The ambassador acknowledges that security is especially important for Latvia, given its geographic position and its neighbour. An agreement on military mobility has already been reached at EU level. One of the presidency's key priorities is negotiations on the EU budget for 2028–2034; Latvia places importance on funding for cohesion, agriculture and security.
Latvian–Irish cooperation
In September, the foreign ministers of the two countries, Baiba Braže and Helen McEntee, signed a memorandum of intent on cooperation in rebuilding Ukraine's Chernihiv region. Ireland, together with the centre Marta, also supports resilience centres that provide psychological help to women and children.
According to Irish estimates, about 18,000 Latvians live in Ireland, while Latvian officials cite a higher figure of 23,000 to 30,000. The ambassador emphasises Latvians' contribution to Ireland's economy, culture and daily life. During the presidency, Latvia is linked with County Cavan, home to one of the largest Latvian communities in Ireland.
The ambassador has worked in Latvia for about a year, after four years as consul general in Los Angeles, USA. Next year she plans to travel more outside Riga to get to know the country.
