The President of the European Council, Antonio Košta, on the occasion of the start of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU in Dublin, said that enlargement will be an area in which the Irish Presidency will play a key role. Košta highlighted the case of Montenegro, reports TVCG.
“I think it is possible to finish the accession negotiations with Montenegro before the end of the Irish presidency. No pressure!”, said Košta in a joint address with the Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Michael Martin.
Košta said that the Irish presidency can count on new momentum in expansion.
“Our Irish friends can rely on the new momentum and the growing awareness among member states that enlargement is the EU’s best geopolitical investment. We need to make progress on all fronts, working harder and faster with all candidates,” Košta said.
Ireland today took over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from Cyprus.
As the presiding country, Ireland will have a key role in the negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, ie the seven-year EU budget, which will be one of the main topics in the second half of the year.
