Programme of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

In a world of rapid change, the European Union needs to be strong, agile and able to respond to emerging opportunities, as well as challenges. Through the work of the General Affairs Council (GAC), the Irish Presidency will ensure a strategic focus on the key priorities of competitiveness, values and security and a coherent approach across the work of all Council formations.

The Irish Presidency will work intensively and ambitiously so that EU leaders can take the necessary decisions in 2026 on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028 to 2034.

Delivering on the ambitious timelines and targets, set out in the One Europe, One Market Roadmap, agreed by the three institutions in April 2026, will be a priority across all areas of the Irish Presidency’s work. In the GAC, the focus will be on delivering swift progress on the simplification agenda.

The Irish Presidency is ambitious for the EU’s enlargement agenda, a key tool in ensuring Europe’s security and prosperity. We aim to prepare the ground for the first accession of new Member States since 2013.

At the heart of our work will be the Union’s values. The Irish Presidency will ensure that the rule of law is upheld across the Union and in candidate countries. We will place particular emphasis on the resilience of our democracies.

We will advance positive relations with the UK, a vital partner for the EU, as well as with our EEA and EFTA partners. This Presidency will continue to develop the Union’s preparedness and resilience for the full range of risks that we could potentially face.

The Irish Presidency will also continue to recognise the need to understand and respond to specific local contexts and support the balanced development of diversified and resilient regional economies via cohesion policy, ensuring that no region is left behind and that the needs of regions facing particular challenges are recognised.

The European Union faces increasingly complex geopolitical challenges. Through the work of the Foreign Affairs Council, the Irish Presidency, working closely with the High Representative/Vice President, will seek to strengthen the EU’s role as a principled global actor. The EU’s firm commitment to multilateralism, the United Nations and the international legal order, as well as the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, will be central to the work of the Irish Presidency.

We will work to continue and maintain the Union’s unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, by maintaining pressure on Russia and ensuring that Ukraine continues to have access to the support and finance that it needs, including to defend itself.

The Irish Presidency will support EU efforts to contribute to peace and security in the Middle East. This will include support for implementation of the two-State solution, supporting action in response to the huge humanitarian needs in Gaza, and the deteriorating situation in the West Bank. Supporting EU efforts towards peace, security and stability in the Gulf, where conflict has had regional and global impacts, in Lebanon, and support for the transition in Syria will be a priority.

In support of a more resilient and secure Europe, the Irish Presidency will ensure a coherent, inclusive and coordinated approach to the Union’s defence and security agenda, supporting the EU’s focus on the development of critical defence capabilities. Advancing work on the proposed new European Security Strategy will be a priority during the Irish Presidency. We will promote the development and evolution of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy to ensure it remains responsive to ongoing crises, and advance work on military mobility and on defence procurement. The EU’s efforts to strengthen cyber security, build our resilience to hybrid threats, and work together to address maritime security challenges will be a focus of the Irish Presidency.

In support of mutually beneficial and positive global partnerships, we will seek to strengthen EU relations with the UK, the US and Canada, and prioritise EU engagement with partners in Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Against this complex and rapidly evolving global environment, the Irish Presidency will continue to pursue an ambitious trade policy agenda, which upholds the multilateral trading system and takes forward essential work on reform of the WTO.

The implementation of the EU-US Trade and Investment agenda will be a clear priority, as well as ongoing trade negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and the UAE. Trade Policy does not exist in a vacuum and the Irish Presidency will also take forward the December 2025 Joint Communication on Strengthening Economic Security.

The Irish Presidency will also ensure that the EU’s role as the world’s largest development and humanitarian actor will be kept in the spotlight. We will provide a platform for strategic discussions on the future of development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and the enduring challenge of poverty. The impacts of geopolitical crises and emerging challenges will be an urgent focus for the EU. The issues of food, health and gender will be core dimensions for the Irish Presidency in focusing strategic debate.

In a rapidly evolving global economic and geopolitical environment, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) will prioritise the Union’s competitiveness, resilience and fiscal sustainability, while remaining agile in responding to international economic developments. Ensuring coordinated and effective policy action remains essential to safeguard stability and support the European economy. In light of ongoing developments in the Middle East and impact on energy markets in particular, the Presidency will facilitate work and discussion in ECOFIN where appropriate.

Reflecting the commitment in the One Europe, One Market Roadmap, priority will be given to achieving the targets on the Savings and Investments Union and the Digital Euro. Action in this area will focus both on deepening European capital markets and strengthening the competitiveness of Europe’s banking sector, helping to mobilise resources for longer-term economic growth and competitiveness. The Irish Presidency will also take forward economic coordination through the European Semester cycle, supporting sound fiscal policies that contribute to debt sustainability and investment.

In a world of constant and rapid change, the European Union needs to be strong, agile and able to respond promptly to emerging opportunities, as well as challenges to our safety, security, social cohesion, fundamental rights and the rule of law.

A comprehensive European approach to asylum and migration is essential for maintaining public trust in the management of migration. Through the work of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, the Irish Presidency will continue work to advance a fair, firm, rules-based approach to migration, asylum and returns.

Europe faces a changing geopolitical and security landscape, and the Irish Presidency will prioritise advancing actions that support Member States in securing borders, fighting serious and organised crime and responding to new and emerging threats.

The Irish Presidency will also progress work on the Council’s vital and ongoing efforts to uphold and strengthen respect for EU values, fundamental rights and the rule of law. This work will include a continuing focus on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, on protecting minorities from discrimination, and on protecting and promoting the rights of the child, including through their participation in the making of decisions that affect their lives.

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will guide our collective efforts to strengthen our citizens’ quality of life and standard of living, to promote social inclusion and equal rights, and to increase competitiveness and fair growth. In doing so, we will support a socio-economic model that emphasises equality, societal resilience and cohesion.

At ESPCO, the Irish Presidency will hold firm in our belief that our European values are a clear economic and social advantage, ensuring rights, tolerance, solidarity, and non-discrimination. Our presidency programme will demonstrate that these values are not just abstract ideals, but practical principles, including the rule of law, which underpins the fairness, trust and stability of the system.

An equal Europe can enable economic reform, growth and competitiveness to be realised more effectively. The Irish Presidency will advance a work programme to support a European social and economic model that harnesses the talents of Europe’s diverse population and ensures that economic reform is both equitable and inclusive. The Presidency will work to complete the equality reforms aimed at safeguarding rights and protecting the most vulnerable from discrimination.

The Presidency will lead the discussion on how we create and support high quality jobs within modern labour markets and ensure that workers and employers are equipped to thrive within and beyond our Single Market.

Ensuring equitable access to high-quality health care is a core expression of our Union’s values. The Irish Presidency will build on major developments in the life sciences and in digital health to highlight that strong and inclusive health systems can underpin innovation and competitiveness, as well as community and health resilience across the Union.

We will also lead in the continuing implementation of the Strategy for European Life Sciences by progressing the EU Biotech Act I, supporting innovation-friendly frameworks for medicines, medical technologies and digital health, and advancing revisions to the EU Medical Device Regulations.

Social investment combats poverty and exclusion and supports a more equal and more socially inclusive society, with the social cohesion that this engenders paying dividends, helping not just to sustain the economy, but to fuel its growth and development. The European social model provides a solid foundation for accelerating innovation by investing in people, leading to a skilled and agile workforce. By building on the EU’s strengths and upholding European values during the Irish Presidency, we will assist in future-proofing the EU as a good place to live and work.

Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a pivotal moment for EU competitiveness. Through the work of the Competitiveness Council, the Irish Presidency will make decisive progress on many of the flagship initiatives set out in the One Europe, One Market Roadmap, which aim to renew European competitiveness, support our industries, and bolster our economic security and resilience.

The Presidency will work to strengthen the foundations of EU competitiveness by further advancing the Single Market, enhancing regulatory effectiveness, accelerating innovation and scale-up for SMEs, and ensuring that Europe’s industrial competitiveness is sustainable, resilient, and aligned with the EU’s social and climate objectives.

Access to affordable housing is a key component of a competitive European economy and the Irish Presidency will seek to progress the initiatives under the European Affordable Housing Plan, including the Affordable Housing Act and the Construction Services Act.

Maximising the contribution of research and innovation to Europe’s competitiveness, security, and prosperity will be a key priority. In this context, the Irish Presidency will aim to advance negotiations on the next EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme (Horizon Europe) and the proposed European Innovation Act.

The Irish Presidency will focus on strengthening the competitiveness of the European space sector as a strategic growth area.

Through the work of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council, the Irish Presidency will support efforts to build a more connected, resilient and competitive Europe in line with the One Europe, One Market Roadmap. We will support the development of Europe’s transport network as a key enabler for competitiveness, work towards decarbonisation and a just transition in the transport sector, and ensure that a safe, secure and resilient transport network can deliver for the people of Europe.

We will advance work on digital connectivity and digital networks, and work to strengthen cybersecurity and cyber resilience, as well as investment in subsea telecoms connectivity and the security and resilience of submarine cables. We will seek to strengthen the EU’s leadership in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and take forward work on digital simplification, contributing to the Union’s competitiveness.

We will drive the Union’s energy agenda forward to build true energy security, supporting the deployment of indigenous renewable energy and clean energy, and building robust grids. The Irish Presidency will be responsive to ongoing geopolitical factors and their implications for energy affordability and security. We will support the development of a more electrified, more resilient and more efficient energy system that can lower prices for people across Europe.

Agriculture and fisheries play a central role in ensuring Europe’s food security, supporting economic competitiveness and sustaining rural and coastal communities, while contributing to the Union’s climate and environmental objectives.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will work to support farming and fishing families, protect their incomes, strengthen competitiveness, sustain rural and coastal communities and strike the right balance between the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social, and environmental.

The Irish Presidency will pay particular attention to the issues of food security, competitiveness, simplification, sustainability, and generational renewal.

During the Irish Presidency, the Environment Council will work towards adopting a whole-of-society effort to create a climate neutral, sustainable and resource-efficient economy.

The Irish Presidency is committed to delivering on the EU’s ambitious agenda to fight climate change and shift to a climate-neutral economy by 2050.

The Irish Presidency will strive to develop and implement policies and measures, which drive economic and social progress, while improving and securing our natural environment for the future through greater policy integration to strengthen resilience across biodiversity, climate and water. Through initiatives such as the Environmental Simplification Omnibus, we aim to contribute to a reduction of the administrative burden for businesses, while maintaining the EU's ambitious objectives to protect the environment and human health.

This will involve promoting environmental awareness initiatives, supporting a just transition and environmentally sustainable behaviours, strengthening water resilience, reversing biodiversity loss and progressing towards a zero-pollution environment, as envisioned in the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan.

We will aim to achieve this by providing coherent, science-based decision-making and solutions-focused EU leadership. This requires upholding rules-based, multilateral decision-making, to address the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and to ensure sustainable and equitable management and protection of shared marine and freshwater resources.

Through the work of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, the Irish Presidency will emphasise the role of education and training across the life cycle in safeguarding the Union’s values and enhancing Europe’s competitiveness, including through addressing skills and competences for the AI era.

In youth policy, we will focus on the themes of information and constructive dialogue.

We will emphasise the intrinsic value of our culture and our sporting heritage, and their essential contribution to European society, taking forward work on EU investment in cultural initiatives and on the Union’s future work plan for culture.

We will place a particular focus on measures to strengthen the safety of children online, and we will ensure that the voices of children are heard in developing online safety measures.