Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton to represent Ireland at Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) council meeting in Cyprus
- Published on: 29 January 2026
- Last updated on: 29 January 2026
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD will travel to Nicosia, Cyprus, on 29 and 30 January 2026 to attend a meeting of EU Education Ministers, marking an important engagement ahead of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency, where key priorities and shared challenges facing education and youth policy across the European Union will be discussed.
During this visit, Minister Naughton will outline Ireland’s priorities in education and youth policy ahead of Ireland’s assumption of the Council Presidency on 1 July 2026. Her participation reflects Ireland’s commitment to fostering inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking learning environments and empowering young people across the European Union.
While in Cyprus, Minister Naughton is expected to chair a series of roundtable meetings with her EU counterparts, focusing on key areas of shared interest, including:
- Strengthening education systems to meet future skills and labour-market needs.
- Promoting educational excellence, equity and inclusion across member states.
- Enhancing youth participation and empowerment in civic, social, and democratic life.
- Supporting mental health and well-being in educational settings.
These discussions will help shape the strategic agenda for the Irish Presidency, ensuring that education and youth policy remains central to the EU’s work on competitiveness, social inclusion, and economic resilience.
Minister Naughton said:
“I look forward to engaging with colleagues from across the EU on the pressing challenges and opportunities facing our education systems and young people today. Ireland’s upcoming Presidency offers a vital platform to build consensus and advance ambitious policies that support learners and youth in every corner of Europe.”
The outcomes of the EYCS meeting in Cyprus will feed directly into preparations for Ireland’s Presidency programme and inform forthcoming Council deliberations.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
EYCS stands for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.
It’s one of the Council configurations of the European Union, bringing together ministers responsible for education, youth, culture and sport from all EU member states.