As a result, I will be coming back to Cork later in the year alongside my future Irish ambassador counterpart in France, Alison Milton, and I am already looking forward to seeing more of what Cork has to offer. 

France is Ireland’s closest EU neighbour, and until December this year, the new pairing means Cork will be the closest Irish county to France.

The Irish presidency of the European Council arrives at a crucial moment for the European Union. Earlier in the year, I heard foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee give a powerful speech where she shared a vision for the presidency: “Ireland’s EU policy stands on these three pillars — values, security and competitiveness”, and I would like to expand on these three areas to show how we will work together over the coming period.

On values, we share much in terms of our approach to international relations. France continues to support the work of the United Nations, an organisation through which we have worked for years alongside Ireland on peacekeeping missions such as Unifil in Lebanon. 

In a recent speech where he spoke about the UN, French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot quoted French philosopher Blaise Pascal: “Justice without force is powerless. Force without justice is tyranny.” France is more committed than ever to an international rules-based order with multilateral organisations such as the United Nations at its core.

On security, more than ever we are ready to work alongside our partners. In this respect, Ukraine has been a turning point. Some believed Europe could not sustain Ukraine without the United States, and that peace would be decided elsewhere, but reality proved otherwise. 

We’re preparing for peace with the Coalition of the Willing, alongside like-minded partners, such as Ireland. Today, we, as members of the European Union — together with partners such as Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada — are delivering support to Ukraine and preparing the security guarantees for the future.

On competitiveness, although these are increasingly complex times, as Europeans we must take the opportunity to work together even more. A market of 450 million people must become a true economic force. That means less fragmentation. Simpler rules. A deeper single market. Capital markets union. Integrated energy systems. All these reforms are on the table, and our governments are working to turn them into reality.

I have been to Cork several times already since taking up my post in August 2024.This year, I attended the launch of the Cork Francophone Film Festival, which is the oldest of its kind in Ireland, organised by the Alliance Française. I also accompanied French filmmaker Régis Wargnier for events at University College Cork.

This time, I will visit some French companies with a significant presence here. Among the 350 French or Irish companies with French majority shareholders based in Ireland, dozens have activities in Cork such as Axa (Laya Healthcare), Pernod Ricard (Irish Distillers), but also Dassault Systèmes, Vinci or Danone — just to name a few. 

The embassy has also partnered with Cork Chamber to organise a business and innovation forum to promote trade and investment links between France and Cork, such as the French-Irish renewable company Amarenco or the R&D partnerships between French companies and the Tyndall Institute. 

I also look forward to meeting business leaders and community partners at the Cobh & Harbour Chamber’s annual president’s gala dinner.

I will also visit Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork Harbour. With the launch of Ireland’s National Maritime Security Strategy earlier this year, the harbour is set to be a key hub for Irish — and indeed, European — defence over the coming years. 

Over the last few months, several new agreements between our respective governments were announced, with Ireland and France set to work together closely together on defence through a series of procurement projects.

Further to our close cooperation, geographically we feel nearer, as travelling to France has never been easier. Just recently, we have seen the announcement of new direct flights between Cork and Nice and a new ferry line between Ringaskiddy and Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Indeed, the wider region will never be more connected to France when work is complete on the Celtic Interconnector, a 500km undersea cable linking the Irish and French and power grids, travelling from East Cork to the north-west coast of Brittany. 

Once finished and operational by autumn 2028, it will enable the exchange of 700MW of electricity between Ireland and France

In the French Embassy, over the last few years our motto has been that we are Ireland’s closest neighbour in the EU, and I am more confident than ever that this is the case.

• Céline Place is French ambassador to Ireland