Cork Hosts EU Transport Attachés as Part of Ireland’s EU Presidency

Transport officials from across the European Union spent three days in Cork, hearing from Cork Airport and AirNav Ireland and touring Kent Station, the Glounthaune to Midleton rail works and Cork Harbour, as Ireland opened its programme of EU Presidency events for transport.

Transport attachés from across the EU 27 met from 22 to 24 July for a programme showcasing a range of EU-related transport projects and initiatives in Cork, highlighting the key role of the EU in delivering national and international connectivity to Ireland. They were joined by representatives from the Transport Directorate of the European Commission (DG MOVE) and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU.

Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport:

"It is my great pleasure to kick-off our programme of Presidency Events for Transport with this informal gathering of Transport Attachés in my own City of Cork.

I'm confident that your time here will not only provide you with valuable insights into Ireland's transport sector and the important role of the EU, but also an opportunity to strengthen the relationships that are so essential to our work at EU level.

The presentations and discussions reflect our key Presidency priorities for Transport — strengthening connectivity to improve the EU's competitiveness, investing in safe, secure and resilient infrastructure, decarbonising our transport sector, and delivering for our citizens.

Alongside the formal programme, I hope you will enjoy the opportunity to experience some of what Cork has to offer—its culture, its heritage and its hospitality. As we say in Irish, "Céad Míle Fáilte – One Hundred-Thousand Welcomes" to you all."

Aviation

Representatives from Cork Airport gave insights into the importance of regional and EU air connectivity through Cork, and outlined progress in delivering recent upgrades including its Solar PV farm upgrade and other decarbonisation projects.

AirNav Ireland, Ireland's air navigation service provider, outlined their role in managing Ireland's airspace, a vital gateway for transatlantic travel, and providing air traffic management and other services in the North Atlantic, covering over 450,000km2 of airspace in total.

Rail

With representatives of Irish Rail, delegates toured Cork's Kent Station, the main train station serving Cork City, which has recently undergone a significant upgrade supported by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, to increase capacity on the network under the Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) programme.

Delegates then travelled to Midleton and viewed the ongoing Glounthaune to Midleton twin-track upgrade, which will facilitate further service improvements in the coming years as part of the CACR programme.

Maritime

Delegates also enjoyed a boat tour of Cork Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world. Representatives of the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) joined the tour to brief delegates on the current operations and future development of the Port, including the key role of EU funding under the Connecting Europe Facility.

In 2024, PoCC was awarded €38.4 million for the construction of two quay berths which will transform the port into an offshore renewable energy hub and bolster its international freight capabilities.

Information on Ireland's EU Presidency is available at Ireland2026.eu.