Seán Canney: Opening Ireland's Eighth EU Presidency
Seán Canney opened the launch of Ireland's eighth EU Presidency at Dublin Castle, presenting a cultural programme and setting out the Presidency's priorities. He framed the next six months as an opportunity for Ireland to lead the Council on competitiveness, EU values and citizens' security.
Event and cultural showcase
Seán Canney welcomed guests and highlighted how the performances on display reflect Ireland's past and point to a shared European future. The opening emphasised both Ireland's unique cultural identity and the cultural connections that unite member states under the motto United in Diversity.
Presidency priorities
Canney outlined an ambitious agenda for the six-month term: advancing measures to enhance the competitiveness of Europe's economy, safeguarding the Union's fundamental values at home and abroad, and providing for the security of citizens across Europe. He stressed Ireland's role in leading the work of the Council in cooperation with Ministers of State, member states and EU institutions.
Historical context
The address recalled Ireland's 53-year relationship with European institutions since joining the EEC in 1973 and noted how successive Presidencies have both shaped and been shaped by the country's transformation. Canney positioned the Presidency as part of a continuing partnership between Ireland and Europe.
Outlook
Seán Canney closed by looking ahead to the next six months, urging collective pride and engagement as Ireland helps to chart Europe’s future and deliver a Presidency that reflects Irish values and ambition.
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Distinguished guests, a chairde go léir, it is a fitting today as we mark the opening of Ireland's eighth EU Presidency here in Dublin Castle. We also showcase some of Ireland's contributions to European culture. We celebrate Ireland's unique cultural identity and also the cultural connections that unite us across Europe, reflecting the motto of the European Union, United in Diversity. The works performed today are evocative of our past and also point us to the future, a European future that our Presidency offers Ireland the opportunity to shape. During our Presidency term, Ireland will lead the work of the Council, engaging with our fellow Ministers of State, with our Member States and with the EU institutions to take forward an ambitious and a very ambitious policy agenda. We will advance measures to enhance the competitiveness of Europe's economy. We will safeguard the fundamental values of our Union at home and abroad. And we will provide for the security of our citizens across Europe. In taking on the responsibility of the Presidency, we are making a contribution to a European project which has served us well in this country well over the last 53 years, since our accession to what was then the European Economic Community in 1973, or the EEC as we knew it. As Ireland helps to guide the evolution of the EEC into the European Union we know today, through seven previous Presidencies, so too has Europe guided and supported the transformation of Ireland's economy and society over the last half century. Ireland's history and our culture makes us a proud European nation. We celebrate that today and we look ahead to our role over the next six months, during which we will help to chart Europe's future and to deliver an Irish EU Presidency in which we can all take pride in. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.
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