EU two-day meeting in July will close Cork's UCC campus

The first major event of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the council of the European Union is scheduled to take place in Cork at the start of July, closing the UCC campus for the duration.

The Cork university will host the two-day visit by the college of commissioners to Ireland which is scheduled for July 2 and 3.

The college of commissioners is made up of commissioners from 27 EU countries, each of whom is appointed as the commission’s political leadership for a five-year term, with responsibility for specific policy areas assigned by the commission president.

As part of the Irish presidency of the council of the European Union, the college of commissioners will meet with members of the Irish Government for discussions on a range of policy matters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said the visit by the college “will provide an opportunity for strategic engagement between the European Commission and the Irish presidency at the outset of the presidency term.

“Discussions will focus on key EU policy areas linked to the priorities of the Presidency and will conclude with a plenary session chaired by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Staff at UCC have been told that the main university campus – “from the Food Science building to Donovan’s Rd” – will be closed from Wednesday, July 1 until Friday, July 3, inclusive.

“During this period, affected staff are requested to work from home as there will be no access to main campus, with the exception of those deemed essential either to the support of the event, or in respect of other essential duties on campus,” a notice to staff said.

It added that “following specific guidance, elevated cybersecurity protocols will be implemented during this period”.

It is understood that An Garda Síochána will be carrying out an extensive security operation for the duration of the event, with traffic diversions and road closures likely.

A garda spokesperson said: “In general, An Garda Síochána will provide information to the public in advance of all EU presidency events that may impact on traffic movements”.

There are two further events relating to the presidency scheduled for Cork in July, with a three-day meeting of the working party on transport beginning on July 22, and a two-day agri-fishing conference starting on July 28.

Ireland’s six-month EU presidency, which begins at the start of July, is expected to cost an estimated €185m before the cost of additional security is taken into account.

This will be the eighth time Ireland has held the presidency, with the previous term occurring in 2013.