Minister Lawless visits Strasbourg to engage with European Parliament in preparation for Irish Presidency

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, is traveling to Strasbourg this week to meet members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as part of the preparation for Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Speaking from Strasburg, Minister Lawless said:

In July 2025, the European Commission published proposals for the next EU budget and the individual programmes, including the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon Europe and the Erasmus+ programme.

Formal negotiations on the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes are currently underway. Depending on progress under the Cypriot Presidency in the first half of the year, there may be trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament during Ireland’s Presidency.

Minister Lawless is meeting the Chairs and Rapporteurs of the Parliament Committees responsible for the policy areas under his remit. The Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee is responsible for research and innovation while the Culture and Education (CULT) Committee focuses on education issues.

The Minister will meet the following MEPs from the ITRE Committee, which is responsible for research and innovation issues, including the next Horizon Europe programme:

• MEP Boris Budka – Chair of the ITRE Committee;
• MEP Lina Gálvez – Shadow Rapporteur on the next Horizon Europe
• MEP Eszter Lakos – Shadow Rapporteur on the next Horizon Europe Specific Programme; and
• MEP Christophe Grudler – Europe Coordinator for the Renew Group on the ITRE Committee.

He will also meet the following MEPs from the CULT Committee:

• MEP Nela Riehl – Chair of the CULT Committee;
• MEP Laurence Farreng – Shadow Rapporteur on Erasmus+ and Renew Coordinator on the CULT Committee;
• MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski – Rapporteur on Erasmus+; and
• MEP Hannes Heide – Coordinator for the on the CULT Committee.

Minister Lawless and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, will meet Irish MEPs later in the week to discuss Ireland’s Presidency.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.

Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda.

EU Presidency

Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2026, taking over from Cyprus. The Irish Presidency will come at a critical juncture in the EU policy and budget cycle. Negotiations on the EU budget proposals are expected to be at a relatively advanced stage. These include negotiations on the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes.

Trilogues

Trilogues are informal tripartite meetings on legislative proposals between representatives of the Parliament, the Council (Member States) and the Commission.

Committees

Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee is responsible for research and innovation (R&I) issues as well as industrial, energy, digital and space policies

Culture and Education (CULT) Committee works on education (primary, secondary and tertiary education and lifelong learning) in addition to culture, youth, sport, and media.