The rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union is held by pre-established groups of three member states, called ‘the Trio’, for a period of 18 months. These three member states work together to set the objectives and the agenda to be addressed by the Council for the shared eighteen-month period. This allows for continuity in the work of the Council.
The groups are put together on the basis of equal rotation amongst Member States, taking into account their diversity and geographical balance within the EU.
Ireland’s EU Presidency is the first of a Trio also involving Lithuania (January to June 2027) and Greece (July to December 2027).
Trio priorities
Unity in diversity – three corners, but one compass
From the Atlantic shores of Ireland, across the Baltic region of Lithuania, to the Mediterranean gateway of Greece, this Presidency Trio reflects the strength and heart of the European project: different histories, experiences and points of view united in diversity and aligned around a shared responsibility and common purpose.
Drawing on the Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029, the Trio commits to steering the work of the Council of the European Union in the face of unprecedented challenges and geopolitical pressure.
The programme is focused on three thematic pillars, reflecting the pillars of the Strategic Agenda:
A free and democratic Europe
A strong and secure Europe
A prosperous and competitive Europe