The Development of the Priorities and Policy Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026

From 1 July to 31 December 2026, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). The Government is seeking views from domestic stakeholders and the Irish public on the development of Ireland’s Presidency priorities and policy programme.

Through these consultations, the Government is seeking to gather observations, suggestions, and reflections on how Ireland can best fulfil its Presidency role; ensure the Presidency policy programme is informed by diverse perspectives from across Irish society; and identify EU-wide issues, themes, and policy areas that should be given particular attention during Ireland’s Presidency.

The consultation launched on 05 November 2025 and the deadline for receipt of written submissions was 12 December 2025. We would like to thank everyone for their views and input into the consultation process. If you have any questions, please send your query to EUPresidency2026Consultations@dfa.ie.

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice, which explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so, and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights. Anonymised excerpts from individual submissions may be included in internal and published reports. While the Department will carefully consider all comments and suggestions received, it does not intend to respond to individual submissions.

Please note that all responses received to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2014, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Feedback received from submissions will be considered as part of the development of Ireland’s Presidency priorities and policy programme. A summary thematic report will be prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and shared with other Government Departments through relevant inter-departmental coordination structures.

The summary thematic report, along with all submissions received, will be published on an updated version of this page once the consultation process has concluded