Ireland’s six-month EU presidency began on Wednesday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin to urge the bloc to accelerate Ukraine’s membership talks, as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hailed strategic ties with Türkiye and warned of “worrying stagnation” in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reform process.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Dublin Castle, Zelenskyy told Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin that Ukraine had met all requirements to open the remaining negotiating clusters in its EU accession talks despite Russia’s ongoing invasion. “We must keep moving forward. We count on it, moving forward without losing time,” he said . Earlier, Zelenskyy had invited Ireland to join a European anti-ballistic initiative under a proposed Drone Deal framework .

Kallas, who met Turkish officials in Ankara on Tuesday, described Türkiye as a “key partner” for the EU, stressing cooperation on security, migration and regional stability while reaffirming support for Ukraine’s sovereignty . Her remarks came as EU leaders prepare for next week’s NATO summit in Ankara, where Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasised the need for “delivery and implementation” on defence spending pledges .

The EU’s foreign policy wing faces growing scrutiny, with *Politico* questioning whether the European External Action Service was “set up to fail” amid internal divisions and member state disputes . Meanwhile, a European Commission investigation revealed that Hungarian intelligence officers operated a spy ring at the country’s Brussels embassy between 2013 and 2016, targeting EU officials .

On the economic front, the EU is under pressure to address trade imbalances with China as record heatwaves drive surging demand for Chinese air conditioners, complicating Brussels’ efforts to impose tariffs . In parallel, the bloc is finalising a quota deal to end a standoff with the UK and France over a €5 billion Scaleup fund .

Ireland’s presidency launch also highlighted domestic tensions, with Zelenskyy urging swift action on the investigation into Aughinish Alumina, a plant owned by Russia’s Rusal, which Kyiv alleges supports Moscow’s war effort . Irish officials have faced criticism for not joining other EU states in sanctioning Rusal assets .

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Articles

China Downplays EU Trade Imbalance Claims EU Painting A False Picture

gdeltproject.org · about 2 hours ago

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced that an investigation into Aughinish Alumina, owned by Russias Rusal, will conclude soon to determine if its output supports the Russian military following calls for EU sanctions. #Russia #EU #Ireland #Zelensky

mastodon bot · about 3 hours ago

Germany wants to expand defense-industrial cooperation with the United States, including by building U.S. weapons systems or components under license in Germany, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. #Russia #US #EU #Germany

mastodon bot · about 3 hours ago

A European Commission report reveals that Hungarian intelligence officers operated a spy ring at the countrys Brussels embassy between 2013 and 2016. The operation targeted EU officials and reportedly ceased in 2016. #Russia #EU #Hungary

mastodon bot · about 3 hours ago

Ireland increasingly isolated in failing to act against Aughinish Alumina parent company As Ireland takes up EU presidency, it is one of only two EU countries that failed to take action against Rusal assets

irish times · about 3 hours ago

Pay more for defence to get goodies from Trump, US tells Nato allies Also in this newsletter: Montenegro can get a share of the EUs next seven-year budget

financial times · about 3 hours ago

Advertiser.ie - PorterShed launches Galway-EU programme to mark Irelands EU Presidency 2026

gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago

New NATO communications HQ to be based in Haderslev NATO has decided that a new signal battalion headquarters will be located in Haderslev, Denmark. The battalion sets up and operates communication and data networks for NATOs headquarters and forces. According to the Danish Defence, this location strengthens NATOs overall ability to coordinate operations in the Nordic region. The headquarters will be the fourth of […]

cphpost · about 3 hours ago

Turkeys defence industry is booming. Europe is in its sights EU countries are uneasy about Erdoğans growing authoritarianism. But they want his countrys hard power

financial times · about 4 hours ago

Türkiye emerges as key NATO security actor ahead of Ankara summit #Europe #NATO #SiteKeywords

mastodon bot · about 4 hours ago

NATO Defence Industry Forum: Germanys delegation and its plans • Table.Briefings #Europe #NATO #NATOSummit

mastodon bot · about 4 hours ago

EU high-tech production hits €414 billion The European Union published the 2026 edition of key figures on European business this week, offering a comprehensive analysis of industry activities, investment, productivity, globalisation, technology, and tourism across member states. The report highlighted that the total sold production of high-tech products within the EU reached a total value of €414 billion during 2024. Pharmaceuticals […]

cyprus mail · about 4 hours ago

Starlink pushes back against EU-imposed restrictions on satellite telephony The European Commission aims to promote European satellite constellations in this strategic sector. Elon Musks US-based group warns of a significant decline in its service quality in Ukraine.

le monde · about 5 hours ago

Europe Learns Its Hard to Start a Trade War With China During a Heat Wave The continents citizens are rushing to buy Chinese air conditioners while EU officials are challenging Beijing over a flood of exports.

wsj · about 5 hours ago

Paramount Skydance offers remedies to secure EU approval for deal Paramount Skydance Corp (PSKY.O) has offered remedies to address EU competition concerns about its $110 billion acquisition of ‌Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), a regulatory filing showed on Wednesday, in a move which a source told Reuters last week was likely to gain European Commission approval for the deal. Paramount said it was confident that this […]

cyprus mail · about 5 hours ago

Q&A: How can policymakers keep the EUs cement industry competitive? Europes cement industry needs a coherent plan from Brussels to meet decarbonization goals while competing with non-EU producers.

politico.eu · about 5 hours ago

Fidan meets senior EU officials to discuss Türkiye-EU relations Türkiyes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday hosted senior European Union officials including foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Ankara to discuss the full range of bilateral relations from trade to migration, expressing hope that the visit would mark an important step toward advancing ties without discrimination.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

EU officials hail strategic ties with Türkiye after Ankara talks European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday called Türkiye a "key partner" following high-level talks in Ankara, as senior Brussels officials emphasized cooperation on security, migration and regional stability while reaffirming commitment to Ukraines sovereignty.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

Canada to deepen NATO ties in Türkiye, then visit Saudi Arabia Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Ankara this week for the 2026 NATO summit before continuing to Saudi Arabia for a bilateral visit with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Ottawa seeks to expand defense cooperation and boost two-way investment in energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

Türkiye urges EU visa ease, clarity on Made in EU rules Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has called on the EU to simplify visa procedures and clarify Made in EU origin rules, warning that protectionist proposals could undermine the Customs Union. He also highlighted Türkiyes growing role as a regional transit hub amid Middle East disruptions.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

EU looks to South Caucasus for solutions as von der Leyen holds talks with President Aliyev Von der Leyen begins her South Caucasus tour in Baku as the EU steps up engagement on regional stability, energy and connectivity.

euronews · about 5 hours ago

EU imposes customs duty on small postal items from third countries - The Baltic Times TALLINN - As of Wednesday, a customs duty is now in effect across the European Union for shipments valued up to 150 euros ordered from non-EU co......

baltic times · about 5 hours ago

Most EU member states are reducing air pollutant emissions - The Baltic Times TALLINN - According to the latest monitoring report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), most European Union (EU) member states are on tr......

baltic times · about 5 hours ago

Rutte: Ankara NATO summit must be about delivery and implementation NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told Anadolu that next weeks summit in Ankara must focus on delivering defence spending pledges, scaling up industrial production, and supporting Ukraine. He described Türkiye as a key hub with nearly 3,000 defence firms and said NATO 3.0 envisions a stronger European-led alliance.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

Turkish defence exports near $11B as NATO sales accelerate Turkish defence and aerospace exports jumped 47.1 to $10.9 billion in the year to May 2026, with NATO members accounting for 57.3 of total exports. The sectors export value per kilogram reached nearly 40 times Türkiyes overall average.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

EU eliminates tariffs on US industrial goods under trade deal The European Union has removed customs duties on imports of US industrial products, implementing its commitments under a transatlantic trade agreement reached last year. The deal, which also grants preferential access to certain US agricultural and seafood products, will remain in force until the end of 2029.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

Germanys Merz says Ankara NATO summit will tackle Middle East, Iran deal German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said NATO allies will use next weeks summit in Ankara to address the latest developments in the Middle East and diplomatic efforts toward a US-Iran peace agreement, signaling Berlins willingness to contribute financially to Iranian reconstruction once a ceasefire takes hold.

yenisafak · about 5 hours ago

How Türkiye strengthens NATO role ahead of alliance summit in Ankara #Europe #NATO

mastodon bot · about 6 hours ago

Ukraine-NATO Council meeting at ministerial level to take place in Ankara Ukraines ambassador to NATO, Aliona Hetmanchuk, has confirmed that a ministerial-level meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council will take place after all during the Alliance summit in Ankara.

ukrpravda · about 7 hours ago

Ukraine proposes Drone Deal to Ireland Ukraine has proposed concluding a Drone Deal with Ireland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a visit to Dublin on 1 July.

ukrpravda · about 7 hours ago