Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2026, taking on the role at a moment of continued geopolitical volatility and economic pressure. With Russia’s war against Ukraine ongoing, the war in the Middle East and global trade fragmentation weighing on Europe’s competitiveness, the Irish Presidency will need to steer the Council’s work through a dense legislative and political agenda. It will also oversee deliberations on key strategic issues, including enlargement, and the crucial phases of negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

In this in-person Breakfast Briefing, the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Ambassador Aingeal O'Donoghue, will look ahead to the upcoming Irish Council Presidency and some of the key issues facing the Union. Following her presentation, she will take part in a Q&A session chaired by Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Studies at the European Policy Centre.

This event welcomes the participation of EPC members, EU officials and media.

For media enquiries, please contact media@epc.eu.

For other queries, please contact events@epc.eu.