Ukraine's EU bid can continue during war, Taoiseach says as Ireland begins European presidency

Taoiseach also says Ireland will push for an EU-wide age verification system and trade measures during its presidency

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets Taoiseach Micheál Martin ahead of a joint press conference at the Ukrainian Government Building in Kyiv. File picture: PA

Ukraine could, in theory, join the European Union while still at war, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said, as accession negotiations continue.

The comments come as Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on Wednesday for a six-month term, with a ceremony due to take place at Dublin Castle later in the day.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the launch, alongside President of the European Council António Costa, former taoisigh, former and current Irish MEPs, former Irish EU commissioners, and European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath.

Asked whether Ukraine's EU membership bid was progressing, Mr Martin said it was possible "in theory" for the country to join the bloc while still at war.

“Obviously, it's going to take time to progress the application, and we are doing it on a merit-based approach, just as we are doing with other applicants from the Western Balkans,” he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Wednesday.

"Others are coming forward with ideas around association or a graduated membership. We will facilitate those discussions, but fundamentally, we're focused on a merit-based approach. 

"[...]We can progress the negotiations, but we want the war to end. And increasingly, Europe is looking and disposed to being part of any negotiation outcome eventually in respect of ending the war in Ukraine, because it should end, because the number of people dying there is quite appalling," Mr Martin added,  

Asked about securing an EU-wide ban on trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Taoiseach said Ireland has been pushing for the measure for the past two years and would like to see it achieved at least during the Irish presidency.

He said there had been a "significant shift in opinion", with people becoming "really quite angry" about events in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

"The problem all along has been trying to get unanimity and trying to get a sufficiency of members. Some member states have historic issues in terms of Israel, which has been an obstacle in some respects or which has prevented them from agreeing with our position or the Spanish position. 

“And that has been a challenge, to try and get agreement across the 27 member states,” Mr Martin said.

He added that Europe is "getting increasingly frustrated" by Israel's "refusal...to facilitate" a European presence at the Rafah border crossing and to allow aid into Gaza.

"The world has still been denied access to Gaza, humanitarian agencies, the European Union itself, and the international media. And that's a very fundamental requirement in my view that the world needs to see, notwithstanding all the reports we get, need access into Gaza," he added. 

The Taoiseach also said Ireland would work closely with its European counterparts to examine whether an EU-wide age-verification system could be introduced to protect children using social media.

Mr Martin said there was a "real prospect" of improving protections for children across Europe.

"The Commission will be bringing forward proposals. Commissioner Von der Leyen established an expert panel that will be reporting, and my understanding is that in July, the Commission is moving on this," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Wednesday. 

"And we, in our capacity as the presidency, will also be driving that agenda because quite a number of member states want to do this," Mr Martin added. 

The Taoiseach said he believed there was "progress in protecting our children" and that the Commission's proposals would encompass a "broad range of measures", including tackling algorithms that promote harmful content to young people.