Key EU Council Priorities
Ireland’s Presidency programme is structured around three core priorities: competitiveness, values and security. These themes reflect both Ireland’s domestic strengths and the wider EU agenda for the second half of 2026.
On competitiveness, the Presidency is expected to focus on strengthening the Single Market, reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity and supporting investment across key sectors. Priority files include the One Europe, One Market Roadmap, regulatory simplification initiatives, the EU Inc. proposal, the Savings and Investments Union, trade negotiations, supply-chain resilience, the European Grids Package, the Energy Security Package, an AI Summit, and progress on cloud and AI-related policy. These measures are particularly relevant for businesses in digital services, energy, infrastructure, financial services, life sciences, trade and advanced manufacturing.
On values, the programme highlights democratic resilience, the rule of law and social inclusion. This includes work on equality, anti-poverty measures, the rights of disabled people, children’s online safety and the EU enlargement agenda. Enlargement is framed not only as a values-based commitment, but also as a strategic investment in European security and resilience.
On security, Ireland’s programme places active support for Ukraine at the centre of the Presidency’s work. It also includes the development of a new European Security Strategy, support for critical defence capabilities, internal security measures, action against organised crime and initiatives relating to lawful access to data for law enforcement. The European Commission has also identified migration and home affairs priorities as part of the Irish Presidency’s security agenda, including cross-border cooperation against organised crime and measures linked to implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The Presidency’s institutional role is both procedural and political. It chairs Council configurations other than Foreign Affairs, chairs COREPER and working-party meetings, organises Council business and helps Member States build agreement on legislative files.