Welcome to Better Europe's weekly update on EU Affairs. IRISH PRESIDENCY TO THE RESCUE This week, Ireland took over the rotating EU Council Presidency. And because headmistresses Ursula von der Leyen was busy in Armenia, the College of Commissioners turned their Brussels meeting into an end-of-year school trip. Instead of adopting the public procurement package with Ursula, they chartered a plane to Cork to kick off the Irish Presidency in style. Ireland’s Presidency programme includes the usual gems: advance the Savings and Investment Union, complete the Banking Union, push for a more integrated capital market, and give the Digital Euro another nudge forward. But what do citizens really care about? According to the latest Eurobarometer, the top challenges EU see ahead are defense and security, and energy independence -- and…