MEETING WITH THE IRISH MINISTER FOR JUSTICE, HOME AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

MEP Javier Zarzalejos held a meeting with Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Immigration, Jim O’Callaghan, in the framework of preparations for the upcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will take place during the second half of 2026.

That semester will be a decisive moment for the European Union: it will coincide with the phase in which the Migration and Asylum Pact must be fully implemented—one of the major challenges of the current legislature—and with the publication of the 2026 Rule of Law Report by the European Commission.

In this context, Zarzalejos stressed the importance of the Irish Presidency promoting an effective and solidarity-based common immigration policy, while preserving the rule of law as an essential pillar of the European project. He pointed out that, in the face of the worrying illiberal drift observed in several Member States, it is imperative to strengthen the Union’s unity and the credibility of its institutions.

The EPP MEP also underlined that Ireland’s commitment will be key for the European Union to face these challenges with determination and to ensure that its founding values continue to be the foundation of its cohesion and political future.