On 1 July 2026, Ireland will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time, leading its work through 31 December 2026. Ireland opens a new presidency trio together with Lithuania and Greece, who will follow in 2027. The trio's shared draft programme, titled "Unity in diversity – three corners, but one compass", is organised around three broad themes: 

• A Free and Democratic Europe, which covers EU values, the rule of law, democratic resilience, and the protection of fundamental rights. 
• A Strong and Secure Europe, which addresses enlargement, external action, security and defence, and migration. 
• A Prosperous and Competitive Europe, which deals with competitiveness, the Single Market, the green and digital transitions, and research and innovation. 

Ireland's own programme, guided by the Irish-language motto Ní neart go cur le chéile ("Strength with unity"), is defined by three central pillars that closely mirror the trio framework: competitiveness, values, and security. An overarching priority running across the entire Presidency, and the full trio, is the negotiation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034, with Ireland aiming to advance discussions sufficiently to enable EU leaders to take the necessary decisions in 2026. 

Education features in both programmes as an enabler of European competitiveness and a vehicle for upholding EU values, with the trio underlining the role of skills, lifelong learning, and vocational education and training as key contributors to Europe's twin transitions. For the Irish Presidency specifically, the following priorities have been put forward: 

• Advancing the next phase of negotiations on the Erasmus+ Regulation, with a strong focus on widening participation for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, closely tied to the broader MFF negotiations. 
• Proposing Council Conclusions on skills and competences for the era of AI, to promote high-quality, flexible learning. 
• Proposing Council Conclusions on STEM education to support the green and digital transitions. 

Research and innovation feature centrally in both programmes. The trio, drawing on the Draghi and Letta reports, underlines the importance of boosting Europe's research capacity in emerging and enabling technologies, attracting and retaining talent, and fostering international cooperation, with due regard to research security. The Irish Presidency has put forward the following priorities: 

• Advancing negotiations on the next EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), with the aim of keeping research and innovation central to EU policymaking. 
• Progressing negotiations on the proposed European Innovation Act. 
• Initiating discussions on a future European Research Area Act, supporting the development of a fully functioning ERA that is attractive to global talent and maximises research impact. 

Read the Irish Presidency programme in full here and the trio's shared draft programme here.