Ursula von der Leyen and EU commissioners meet Irish ministers in Cork

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU commissioners are meeting Irish ministers in Cork as Ireland kicks off its six-month EU presidency term.

Irish premier Micheál Martin and members of the Irish government greeted the senior EU figures ahead of a meeting at University College Cork.

Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union officially began on Wednesday, with a ceremony at Dublin Castle attended by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ms Von der Leyen and the EU commissioners landed on Thursday in Cork, Mr Martin’s home city, ahead of several meetings and a press conference on Friday.

Among the issues that are expected to be raised by the Irish government during those meetings is an EU-wide ban on the trade of goods and services from the occupied Palestinian territories.

Ms von der Leyen was greeted by Mr Martin at Cork City Hall on Thursday afternoon, where she was presented with a vase etched with the slogan for Ireland’s presidency – “Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength with unity”.