The participants represented member states’ foreign ministries, the European External Action Service, and the General Secretariat of the Council.

Poland’s delegate to the meeting was Head of the Foreign Service and Director-General Henryka Mościcka-Dendys. In a debate on security, she emphasised that Russia remains the principal threat for Europe, and a joint effort of the whole European community is required to build resilience to Russian and Belarusian disinformation-related and other hybrid operations.

Aside from discussing the assumptions behind a currently drafted European Security Strategy, the meeting’s agenda included a presentation of the Irish presidency’s priorities for the coming six months, matters concerning negotiations of the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU enlargement policy, competitiveness, and the common market.

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On 1 July, Ireland will assume its eighth presidency of the Council of the EU. Its priorities for the six months ahead encompass security and defence policy as well as a range of economic matters, concerning in particular economic competitiveness and innovation.