The Irish Presidency: As the European Union Expands, Ireland Sets the Pace

Published April 28, 2004

The accession of 10 new member countries to the European Union on May 1 comes while Ireland is at the helm-- following EU protocol, whereby the presidency is a rotating chair occupied by a different member country for six months at a time, Ireland assumed the role at the beginning of 2004. The presidency will pass to the Netherlands for the second half of the year, beginning July 1.

Ireland's ambassador...