Minister Canney attends EU Transport Council in Luxembourg ahead of Irish EU Presidency
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From: Department of Transport
- Published on: 9 June 2026
- Last updated on: 9 June 2026
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, attended the EU Transport Council meeting in Luxembourg yesterday (8 June 2026), as Ireland prepares to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in three weeks’ time.
Minister Canney welcomed Council approval of Conclusions on the EU Maritime Industrial Strategy and EU Ports Strategy. The Maritime Industrial Strategy aims to safeguard and boost the maritime manufacturing and shipping industries, enhance their innovation capacity and protect their competitiveness. The EU Ports Strategy will significantly enhance the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports.
Other items at the Transport Council included a discussion among Ministers on progress on the proposed Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation, and an exchange of views on the Decarbonisation of Transport post-2030.
This was the final Transport Council meeting under the Cyprus Presidency, ahead of Ireland taking on the Presidency of the Council of the EU from July to December 2026.
To close the Council session, Minister Canney, in his role as incoming chair, presented the Work Programme of Ireland’s Presidency, setting out Ireland’s key priorities in the transport area.
As part of Ireland’s preparations for the Presidency, Minister Canney held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Czechia, Estonia, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Finland and Hungary.
“I congratulate Minister Vafeades, Minister Hadjimanolis and the whole of the Cyprus Presidency for its work chairing the Council and progressing transport priorities over the past six months. Ireland looks forward to assuming the EU Presidency on July 1st and continuing the good work of Cyprus on key issues.”
“The bilateral meetings we held during Council are important for strengthening relationships with my Ministerial colleagues across Europe. They also help Ireland maintain our readiness to take on the Council Presidency, where we will work together with all EU colleagues to advance a transport agenda that supports connectivity, competitiveness and clean transition and that delivers for the ultimate benefit of EU citizens.”
Minister of State, Seán Canney