H.E. Kevin Colgan, Ambassador of Ireland
As Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ambassador Kevin Colgan discusses the Presidency’s priorities, Europe’s evolving geopolitical landscape, and Ireland’s unwavering support for Montenegro’s EU accession, describing the country as the leading candidate for the Union’s next enlargement.
At a time when the European Union is navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, strengthening its security architecture and enhancing its global competitiveness, Ireland takes on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union with an agenda centred on unity, resilience and shared values. In this exclusive interview for Diplomacy, H.E. Kevin Colgan, Ambassador of Ireland to Serbia and Montenegro, outlines Ireland’s priorities for its Presidency, reflects on the future of EU enlargement, and reaffirms Ireland’s strong commitment to Montenegro’s European path. He emphasises that enlargement remains one of the Presidency’s central priorities and highlights Montenegro’s position as the frontrunner among candidate countries, while underscoring that continued reforms will be decisive in bringing the country to the final stage of its accession process.
What are the key priorities of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, and what outcomes do you hope to achieve?
Ireland is honoured to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time. We take on this responsibility at a particularly important moment for Europe, as we navigate growing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and an evolving security landscape. Throughout our Presidency term, we will act impartially, serving as an honest broker among Member States. Our work will respond to the overall interests and needs of the Union, its Member States, and citizens across Europe. Our Presidency will focus on three closely connected priorities: competitiveness, values and security. Through our agenda on competitiveness, we will strengthen the Single Market, remove barriers to internal trade, help European businesses and SMEs expand across the continent, and enhance their access to finance that will allow them to grow. We will drive the Council’s work to implement the One Europe, One Market Roadmap and make decisive progress in 2026. We will work with partners to achieve the objectives and targets set out in the Roadmap. In the area of security, we know that no country acting alone can address the entirety of existing and emerging security challenges. The Irish Presidency will contribute actively to the ongoing development of the EU’s security and defence. Through our focus on values, we will ensure that we uphold fundamental rights and protect those most in need. We will work to uphold the rule of law across the EU and in candidate countries, and we will place particular emphasis on bolstering the resilience of European democracies. Together, these pillars reflect our ambition to build a stronger, more resilient Europe—one that is economically competitive, steadfast in defending democracy and the rule of law, and capable of responding effectively to contemporary security challenges.
How does Ireland view the future of the European Union in the current geopolitical environment?
The European Union faces increasingly complex geopolitical challenges. These are challenges that no Member State can tackle alone. Throughout our Presidency, we will work with our European partners to strengthen Europe’s resilience, deepen cooperation on security and defence, and improve our collective response to these shared challenges. The Irish Presidency will seek to strengthen the EU’s role as a principled global actor. The EU’s firm commitment to multilateralism, the United Nations, and the international legal order, as well as to the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, will remain central to our work. We will work to continue the Union’s unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression by maintaining pressure on Russia and ensuring that Ukraine continues to have access to the support and finance it needs, including to defend itself. The Irish Presidency will also support EU efforts to contribute to peace and security in the Middle East. In support of a more resilient and secure Europe, the Irish Presidency will ensure a coherent, inclusive and coordinated approach to the Union’s defence and security agenda, supporting the EU’s focus on the development of critical defence capabilities. At the same time, because we believe that strong international partnerships are essential, we will seek to strengthen EU relations with the UK, the US and Canada, while prioritising engagement with partners in Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Against this complex and rapidly evolving global environment, the Irish Presidency will continue to pursue an ambitious trade policy agenda and ensure that the EU’s role as the world’s largest development and humanitarian actor remains in the spotlight. Ultimately, our goal is to help build a Europe that is safer, stronger and better prepared for the challenges ahead. To do this, we have to keep the door open to countries that are ready to join the European Union. Our Presidency motto, Ní neart go cur le chéile, meaning “Strength with Unity,” captures this approach. It reflects a simple but enduring belief that Europe is at its strongest when we work together, especially at a time when unity has never mattered more.
How important will EU enlargement and support for candidate countries be during Ireland’s Presidency?
EU enlargement will be at the very centre of Ireland’s Presidency. Ireland has always been a strong supporter of EU enlargement. We held the Presidency during the historic 2004 enlargement, when ten new Member States joined. We see the enlargement process as a key expression of our values and as an investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity across Europe. We welcome the renewed momentum behind enlargement across the European Union, particularly after the successful EU-Western Balkans Summit. The challenge now is to translate that political momentum into tangible progress. During Ireland’s Presidency, we will work closely with our European partners to ensure that enlargement remains a priority and that countries making real progress continue to move forward on their European path. The Irish Presidency has significant work ahead on the enlargement agenda, including preparing the ground for the first accession of new Member States since 2013. We will work towards the completion of accession negotiations with Montenegro and seek to make substantial progress in negotiations with Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. At the same time, we recognise the importance of maintaining public confidence in enlargement. During our Presidency, Ireland will continue to promote a better understanding of the benefits of enlargement, both within the European Union and across the candidate countries, because a successful enlargement process ultimately depends on the support and engagement of citizens on all sides.
How do you assess Montenegro’s progress towards EU membership, and what reforms remain essential?
Montenegro is the clear frontrunner for the next candidate country to join the European Union. The progress achieved so far reflects Montenegro’s strong commitment to its European path and demonstrates what can be accomplished through political will and sustained reform efforts. Joining the EU requires broad societal consensus, and it is encouraging to see that EU membership has become a shared goal across the political spectrum. The EU has always been clear that accession is a merit-based process. Montenegro has already completed a significant amount of the legislative work required to align with the EU acquis. Yet EU accession is an ongoing reform process, and important work still lies ahead. Continued progress will depend on maintaining the pace of reforms and delivering tangible results, particularly in strengthening the rule of law, the independence and efficiency of the judiciary, public administration, and the fight against corruption and organised crime. These are not simply technical requirements—they are fundamental to citizens’ confidence in public institutions. Ireland has consistently supported EU enlargement because we believe it makes Europe stronger, more secure and more prosperous. At the same time, Ireland believes that the EU is first and foremost built on a set of values, including democracy, equality, human rights and the rule of law. These shared fundamental values underpin all the Union’s activities, are enshrined in its legal framework, and have been agreed upon by every Member State. That is why it is important for candidate countries to fully implement the legislation they have adopted to align with the EU acquis. It will be important for Montenegro to build on its progress by delivering further crucial reforms as it approaches the final stretch of the accession process.
What message would Ireland like to send to the citizens of Montenegro regarding their European future?
We would like people in Montenegro to know that Ireland has benefited enormously from EU membership. Since joining in 1973, Ireland has undergone a remarkable transformation. Our society, our influence and our economy have changed for the better. Joining the European Union has improved almost every aspect of our lives, from how we work, travel and study to the quality of our environment and the opportunities available to our businesses and young people. It is because of our own positive experience that we want to keep enlargement high on the agenda, despite numerous other challenges. We want the people of Montenegro to understand the potential benefits of European Union membership by demonstrating just how much Ireland has gained from it. We would like to see the citizens of Montenegro benefit as we have. That is why it is fantastic to see such broad support for European integration across Montenegro. I come from a country with a similarly high level of support for the European Union, with roughly 80% of Irish people continuing to support our long-standing membership.
How can a smaller EU Member State such as Ireland contribute to shaping European policies?
Throughout our membership of the European Union, Ireland has played a central role in Europe. We help shape the EU through our contribution to foreign, economic and social policies. As a smaller country, Ireland has a proud history of multilateralism and of working with our fellow Member States to improve the lives of European citizens across the continent we all share. The rotating Presidency gives every Member State, regardless of size, the opportunity to help shape the European agenda. Ireland has successfully held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on seven previous occasions, including during periods of significant change for the Union. As an example of what smaller states can contribute, during our 2004 Presidency we welcomed the largest enlargement in the EU’s history, with ten new Member States joining. As we assume the Presidency once again, we are in the driving seat of the EU agenda, chairing meetings, driving legislative work, and building compromises among Member States. We will act as an honest broker, working impartially to build consensus and help the European Union deliver practical results on the issues that matter most to its citizens. We want to facilitate constructive dialogue, drawing on our own experience of the importance of engagement across political divides in building peace on our island.
How do you assess Ireland-Montenegro bilateral relations, and where do you see the greatest potential for further cooperation?
2026 marks two decades of bilateral relations between Ireland and Montenegro, and I am pleased to see that our partnership continues to go from strength to strength. Over the past year, high-level exchanges have highlighted this growing connection. President Connolly welcomed President Milatović to Dublin for the first state visit by a President of Montenegro to Ireland. In June, we were pleased to welcome Minister Gorčević to meet with her counterpart, Minister Byrne. Our Taoiseach also attended the recent EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat. Across these meetings, Ireland has reaffirmed its strong support for Montenegro’s EU accession and encouraged the continuation of the reforms that will bring the country closer to membership. Expanding our presence in the Western Balkans reflects the importance we attach to our relations with Montenegro and our long-term commitment to strengthening our engagement further. As we have already discussed, Ireland seeks to contribute to Montenegro’s democratic, economic and broader societal development by supporting its European path. Beyond European integration, there is significant potential to strengthen economic ties, promote tourism, and enhance cooperation in research and education. I am optimistic about the future of Irish-Montenegrin relations. As small countries, we share many experiences and values, including our love of storytelling, warm hospitality, and traditional music and dance. I believe that by bringing our businesses, institutions and people closer together, we can build on the strong foundation that already exists between our two great countries.
What would be your message to the people of Montenegro as Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union?
My message would be to recognise the hard work Montenegro has done to date on its accession path. As the clear frontrunner, we hope to see Montenegro continue making strong progress. As the Presidency, Ireland supports Montenegro’s ambition to close all negotiating chapters by the end of the year. There is every reason to be optimistic, provided the hard work continues. Joining the EU requires cross-societal buy-in, and we welcome the fact that EU membership has become a shared national objective across the political divide. Political debate is a normal part of every democracy. It is a sign of good democratic health. As these debates continue to take place, quite rightly, it is also important to consider the big picture. What matters is that there remains sufficient agreement on the country’s strategic direction and on the reforms needed to achieve EU membership. EU membership is ultimately a national project. It succeeds best when it enjoys broad support across political parties, institutions and society. It will be important for Montenegro to build on this unity and deliver further crucial reforms as it approaches the final stretch of the accession process. The Irish Presidency has made clear that we stand ready to assist Montenegro in its accession process in any way we can. We welcome the strong momentum behind enlargement and are committed to building on it. After all, for Ireland, expanding the European Union is about strengthening Europe as a whole. Ní neart go cur le chéile – “Strength with Unity” – is our Presidency motto.