President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, led the College of Commissioners to Cork on 2–3 July, the traditional College visit the Commission pays to each country at the start of its Presidency of the Council of the European Union — this time marking the opening of Ireland's six-month term. Alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin, President von der Leyen chaired a plenary session on the Presidency's priorities for the months ahead, covering competitiveness, security, the next long-term EU budget, housing, and enlargement.
The visit opened at the Tyndall National Institute, Cork's semiconductor research powerhouse, which President von der Leyen said set the spirit for the Presidency. Europe, she argued, no longer lacks ideas: "At the research and innovation powerhouse that is Tyndall, Europe is bridging a gap we have long struggled with. We have to move from the test to the scale… We have the talent, the innovation, the research and development… But what we now need is scale." Focusing on the ongoing work to boost Europe's competitiveness, President von der Leyen pointed to new trade agreements with India and Mexico, faster delivery of the One Europe, One Market Roadmap, and continued simplification of rules for business: "To make Europe the best place to innovate, invest and grow, we must keep working hard on making life easier for businesses… Because entrepreneurs have no time to lose."
The second priority of the visit was security. Leaders discussed strengthening Europe's defence readiness through joint procurement under the SAFE programme, welcomed Ireland's decision to raise defence spending, and took stock of the EU's support to Ukraine. As part of the European Union's EUR 90 billion Ukraine Loan, more than EUR 3 billion in budget support and the first tranche of EUR 6 billion in air-defence support have been disbursed, and cooperation with Ukraine's defence industry continues to deepen. "Security underpins everything we do… And security also means taking greater responsibility for our own defence," President von der Leyen emphasised.
Attention then turned to one of the key negotiations that will take place under the Irish Presidency: turning June's European Council agreement on the architecture of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) into a revised negotiating box for the October European Council. President von der Leyen voiced confidence that the Irish Presidency could play a crucial role in reaching a deal: "Ireland successfully brokered an MFF agreement in 2013. And you can do it again," she said.
The fourth topic on the agenda was housing. President von der Leyen focused on the European Housing Alliance and the high-level Housing Summit to be launched during the Irish Presidency. President von der Leyen explained: "Europe is facing a housing crisis. A crisis of affordability, access and quality. Our citizens are calling for solutions. And we are responding."
The President also welcomed Ireland's continued support for enlargement, pointing to the recent opening of the first accession cluster with both Ukraine and Moldova, continued progress by Albania and Montenegro, and Ireland's ambition to help conclude Montenegro's accession negotiations this year — describing enlargement, on the back of Ireland's own experience since joining the European Community in 1973, as one of Europe's smartest long-term investments.
On the margins of the visit, President von der Leyen also joined a dinner hosted by the Taoiseach in Cork's historic Aula Maxima, where she paid tribute to Ireland's tradition of quiet, consensus-driven leadership — from the 2004 enlargement to the 2013 Council Presidency: "You bring people together, find common ground, and quietly get things done… When Europe needs to navigate change, Ireland has so often helped to chart the course." Looking to the six months ahead, she added: "Ireland has always shown that partnership, pragmatism and positivity can build consensus and move Europe forward."
- Audiovisual coverage
- Statement by President von der Leyen with Taoiseach Martin on the occasion of the College visit to the Irish Presidency
- Remarks by President von der Leyen at the dinner hosted by the Taoiseach for the start of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
- Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union
