Ireland has officially assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months, taking over from Cyprus at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and major policy decisions facing the bloc. It is the eighth time the country, which joined the European Community in 1973, has held the presidency.

Ireland will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday. Here is what it means for Switzerland.

For the next six months, Dublin will try to play neutral on defence and Middle East policy while simultaneously pushing for a contentious EU budget deal that many in Brussels…