The Irish Government has set aside around €185 million for its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on July 1.
That is roughly three times what Cyprus and Denmark spent on their recent terms. Ireland would hold the rotating role for the eighth time, taking over from Cyprus.
The presidency passes between EU member states every six months. It allows a country to chair Council meetings, set the agenda and broker deals between governments.
Ireland, with a population of about five million, would lead the work of all 27 member states until the end of the year.
Competitiveness, values and security form the three priorities Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin set out on June 10 at Dublin Castle. They align with the European Union’s strategic agenda agreed by leaders in late 2024.
The most demanding file would be the bloc’s long-term budget for 2028-2034. The European Commission has proposed a package of almost €2 trillion, which member states have yet to agree.
The same package would also triple home affairs spending to €81 billion, much of it for border management and migration. Fourteen member states have already opposed routing farm and cohesion funds through a single national plan.
Security has become a central concern. Ireland has spent some €19 million on counter-drone defences after drones shut Copenhagen airport before a European summit in 2025.
Suspected Russian drones were also reported in the flight path of a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a recent visit to Ireland.
Ireland would host up to 50 heads of state and government at a leaders’ summit in Dublin in November. It would also hold 22 informal ministerial meetings, some outside the capital.
To prepare, the country has doubled its permanent representation in Brussels to about 250 officials.
Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne has described the country’s role as that of an “honest broker”. The presidency carries influence over the agenda but little power to decide.
Ireland last held the role in 2013. It would hand over to Lithuania in January, forming a new trio with Lithuania and Greece after the outgoing group of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus.
