Ireland takes over the EU presidency

One of the priorities of Ireland's presidency will be the EU enlargement policy, which they emphasize as a key expression of European values, as well as investing in peace, security, stability, and prosperity. "We believe that our European partners in candidate countries can benefit from the EU, while the Union as a whole will be strengthened by the political, economic, social, and cultural contributions of new member states," states Ireland's presidency program. The EU's largest expansion occurred when it admitted 10 countries. In times of uncertainty, we will also work to strengthen and stabilize EU relations with neighbors and partners worldwide, including the United Kingdom and the United States," the program concludes. A special focus will also be on strengthening the rule of law in member states and candidate countries, as well as protecting democratic institutions, fighting disinformation, and ensuring citizens' security in the digital space. Ireland's presidency will be the first after the Irish language became an official working language of the European Union in 2022, which is seen as an opportunity to further promote linguistic and cultural diversity within the Union.