Millions of Euro has been allocated in the budget to preparing for Ireland taking over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.
The Department for Foreign Affairs has been granted an additional €70 million in today’s Budget which will partly be used to fund Ireland’s EU role.
Europe Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, said “deepening our relationships, networks and influence in the EU” is particularly important to the government.
“We are planning ahead now, during a time of increased global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, by committing the additional funding in the Budget to best prepare for this important responsibility. We will have the resources in place to bring in new, key people in good time ahead of the start of the Irish Presidency.”
Ireland will hold the rotating presidency of the European Council for six months from July to December 2026. It is understood that staffing levels will increase in Ireland’s office in Brussels in the coming years to cope with the increased workload which comes with the presidency.
“The Government decision to allocate this additional funding will ensure that Ireland fully meets its international climate finance commitments, allow Ireland to maintain and open new Diplomatic Offices in key locations and prepare for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in 2026,” it says in the budget documents released today.
The rotating presidency is seen as an influential position allowing the member state in the chair to steer which EU legislation progresses at what speed.
According to the European Council the position is also “vital to the stability and running of Europe”.
Ireland last held the rotating presidency in 2013 under Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
During those six months, a 15 metre long cloud-like sculpture entitled the “Skylum” made by artist, Andrew Kearney, was suspended inside the European Council’s Justus Lipsius building in Brussels.
Asked about preparations for the 2026 presidency earlier this year, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said “Ireland will be responsible for driving the EU policy agenda and advancing work on EU legislative and policy initiatives. Irish Ministers and officials will chair many EU meetings and will represent the Council in its relations with other EU institutions.
Delivering a successful Presidency will require extensive preparatory work and significant resources.”
“…The 2026 EU Presidency will be a major undertaking for Ireland and a key focus for the work of Government in the years ahead. We have a proud record of success from our previous Presidency terms, and I am confident that we will again be able to make a significant and positive contribution to the EU through our Presidency in 2026.”