The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU officially began on 1 July 2026. For the next six months, Ireland takes over from Cyprus at the helm of this rotating presidency, which is responsible for organising the work of ministers from the twenty-seven Member States. This institutional transition often goes unnoticed, yet it helps shape how the European Union functions and can influence the progress of major legislative files. Unlike the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union does not have permanently elected members: it brings together the relevant national ministers depending on the subject under discussion.
Over the past six months, the Cypriot Presidency focused in particular on advancing negotiations on European competitiveness, migration, the Union’s future budget and support for Ukraine. While it did not fundamentally alter the political balance in Europe, it helped move several legislative files forward and paved the way for further discussions.
Ireland has now taken over these files and intends to focus its efforts on three main priorities: strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy, upholding the Union’s democratic values, and addressing security challenges in an increasingly unstable international context. But what exactly is the role of this rotating presidency? What powers does it have? And can a Member State, for six months, exert greater influence over European decisions? That is what we aim to explore here.
Why Is Ireland Taking Over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union?
Since 1 July 2026, Ireland has held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for a six-month term. It takes over from Cyprus, which had held the Presidency since 1 January. Between now and 31 December, the Irish government will be responsible for organising and chairing meetings of ministers from the 27 Member States, before handing over to Lithuania at the start of 2027.
This Presidency is not the result of an election or a one-off political decision. Member States take turns holding it according to an order set several years in advance. Each country assumes this responsibility for six months, allowing every Member State to contribute, in turn, to organising the Union’s work. Since the Treaty of Lisbon came into force, presidencies have also been grouped into “trios” of three Member States, which draw up a joint eighteen-month programme to ensure continuity in European priorities. Ireland is therefore launching a new trio alongside Lithuania and Greece.
For Dublin, this Presidency is particularly significant. This is the eighth time Ireland has held the role, the last occasion being in 2013. At first glance, this rotation may appear to be little more than a change in the calendar. In reality, however, it is an essential part of the European Union’s institutional machinery. While the country holding the Presidency does not “lead” Europe, it plays a central role in organising discussions and helping the twenty-seven Member States reach agreement. Understanding this often-overlooked role is key to appreciating the significance of Ireland’s Presidency.
What Is the Presidency of the Council of the European Union?
If the announcement of the Irish Presidency leaves many Europeans confused, it is partly because the European Union’s institutions have names that sound very similar. Between the Council of the European Union, the European Council and the European Commission, it is easy to get lost. Yet each of these institutions has a very different role.
Let us begin with the Council of the European Union, the institution directly concerned by the Irish Presidency. It brings together ministers from the twenty-seven Member States. Its composition varies depending on the subject under discussion: agriculture ministers meet to discuss agricultural policy, environment ministers deal with climate issues, finance ministers handle economic matters, and so on. Together with the European Parliament, the Council adopts European laws, approves the Union’s budget and coordinates Member States’ policies. In other words, it is one of the main places where European decisions are made.
The European Council, on the other hand, operates at a completely different level. It brings together the heads of state or government of the twenty-seven Member States, as well as its President, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. It does not adopt laws. Its role is to define the Union’s broad political direction and set priorities on major issues, such as the war in Ukraine, EU enlargement or energy policy.
Finally, the European Commission represents the general interest of the Union. It is the only institution with the power to propose most new European legislation. It also ensures that the Treaties are applied and that European law is respected in the Member States. Once the Commission presents a draft law, it is then examined and negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
It is precisely because the Council of the European Union is directly involved in adopting legislation that the rotating Presidency matters. The country holding the Presidency does not lead the European Union, but it is responsible for organising the work of this key institution and helping the twenty-seven Member States reach compromises. This discreet but strategic role is what gives the Irish Presidency its importance.
What Does the Country Holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU Actually Do?
Contrary to what its name might suggest, the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union does not “lead” the EU. It cannot impose decisions on other Member States, nor can it change European policies on its own. Its role is best compared to that of an orchestra conductor: it organises the Council’s work, helps negotiations run smoothly and seeks to reconcile the positions of the 27 Member States.
In practical terms, the country holding the Presidency organises and chairs several hundred meetings at every level. Ministers for Agriculture, Environment, Economy and Justice meet regularly in Brussels or Luxembourg to examine legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission. The Presidency sets the agenda, chairs meetings and works to move negotiations forward.
But its role does not end there. When disagreements arise between Member States, the Presidency acts as a mediator. It consults the various delegations, proposes compromises and tries to reconcile interests that are sometimes very different. This neutrality is essential: the country holding the Presidency does not simply defend its own national position. It must act in the collective interest of the Union and help build agreement.
The Presidency also represents the Council of the European Union in negotiations with the other two major legislative institutions: the European Commission, which proposes legislation, and the European Parliament, which examines and amends it. These discussions, often referred to as “trilogues”, are crucial to the adoption of European directives and regulations. Here too, the Presidency’s ability to broker compromises can either speed up or slow down the adoption of a text.
Finally, while the Presidency cannot decide European legislation on its own, it does have a degree of political influence. By bringing certain issues onto the agenda more quickly, organising ministerial meetings on specific topics or devoting more resources to particular negotiations, it can give momentum to priorities it considers important.
This ability to organise and mediate explains why the Presidency of the Council of the European Union is often described as a low-profile but strategic role. Although it has no decision-making power of its own, it plays a vital part in enabling the twenty-seven Member States to reach agreement on major European policies.
Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU: Ireland, an Economic Model That Divides the European Union
This is one of Ireland’s most distinctive features within the European Union. Since the 1990s, the country has based a large part of its economic strategy on an attractive corporate tax regime. Its official corporation tax rate long remained at 12.5%, one of the lowest in the European Union.
This policy has encouraged many US multinationals, particularly in the digital and pharmaceutical sectors, to establish their European headquarters in Ireland. Today, companies such as Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Pfizer employ tens of thousands of people in the country and make a significant contribution to its economic growth.
However, this strategy has never been universally accepted in Europe. Several Member States, particularly France and Germany, have argued that it encourages tax competition between European countries. For years, some multinationals were able to transfer a significant share of their profits to Ireland in order to pay less tax than they would have paid in the countries where they actually carried out their business activities.
The Apple case has become a symbol of this policy. In 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union definitively ruled that the tax advantages granted by Ireland to Apple constituted illegal State aid, requiring the company to repay around €13 billion in unpaid taxes.
Why did other Member States allow this situation to continue for so long? Quite simply because direct taxation remains largely a national competence. To change European tax rules, Member States must, in most cases, reach unanimous agreement. Each country therefore has a right of veto. Ireland, along with Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands, has long defended its economic model by arguing that tax policy falls within national sovereignty. This rule explains why reforms often move slowly.
Nevertheless, the landscape is gradually changing. Under pressure from the OECD and the European Union, a global minimum tax of 15% on the profits of large multinationals is now being implemented by many countries, including Ireland. This reform aims to curb the most aggressive tax optimisation strategies without completely eliminating tax competition between states. The debate is far from over, however: some believe it restores fairer competition, while others fear it may reduce the economic attractiveness of smaller countries such as Ireland.
This policy has also profoundly transformed the Irish economy. In three decades, Ireland has gone from being one of the poorest countries in Western Europe to one of the richest in terms of GDP per capita. Its supporters see this as proof of the success of its economic model; its critics argue that this success was partly built on tax competition that deprived other countries of significant revenue.
What Does Ireland Intend to Achieve During Its Six-Month Presidency of the Council of the EU?
The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU will not merely be an institutional formality. Dublin is taking office with a political programme centred on three priorities: competitiveness, European values and security. The stated aim is clear: to move forward several key European policy files against a backdrop marked by the war in Ukraine, trade tensions, competition with the United States and China, and debates over the Union’s future budget.
Economically, Ireland wants to promote a more competitive Europe. This means strengthening the single market, supporting innovation, simplifying certain administrative rules and ensuring the Union has the capacity to invest in strategic sectors. For Dublin, competitiveness is not merely a technocratic term: it must allow Europe to maintain its place in the global economy while meeting the social expectations of its citizens.
The second priority concerns European values. Ireland has stated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights and support for Ukraine. The presence of Volodymyr Zelensky at the official opening of the Presidency in Dublin gave the launch a strong geopolitical dimension. For Ireland, the European Union must continue to support Kyiv while also preparing for the next stages of European enlargement.
Finally, Dublin intends to make security a central focus of its six-month Presidency. This does not only mean military defence. It also includes cybersecurity, energy security, the protection of critical infrastructure, migration management and the European Union’s ability to reduce its dependencies. In an increasingly unstable world, Ireland wants to contribute to a Europe that is more self-reliant, more resilient and better able to protect its citizens.
One key political question remains: will Ireland be able to turn these priorities into concrete results? Holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU does not allow a country to impose its own agenda on the other Member States. However, it does provide a unique opportunity to shape negotiations, prioritise legislative files and build compromises between the twenty-seven governments. Ultimately, the success of the Irish Presidency will be judged not by its announcements, but by its ability to move European legislation forward over the next six months.
At the opening ceremony of the Irish Presidency, Taoiseach Micheál Martin summed up his government’s ambition: “We are committed to fulfilling this mission in the service of the European Union and its citizens. During our term in office, we will work towards a Union that is more prosperous, safer and true to its fundamental values.” The coming months will show whether these ambitions can be translated into concrete progress for the European Union.
What is the difference between the Council of the European Union and the European Council?
The Council of the European Union brings together the ministers of the twenty-seven Member States. Together with the European Parliament, it adopts European laws, approves the Union’s budget and coordinates the policies of the Member States. The European Council, for its part, brings together the heads of state or government. It does not vote on laws, but sets the European Union’s broad political guidelines, particularly on matters of defence, foreign policy and enlargement.
Does holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union enable one to lead Europe?
No. The country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union does not lead Europe and cannot impose its decisions on the other Member States. Its role is to organise ministerial meetings, facilitate negotiations, promote compromise amongst the 27 Member States and represent the Council in discussions with the European Parliament and the European Commission. This role is therefore primarily one of coordination and mediation.
Why does the presidency of the Council of the European Union change every six months?
The presidency is held in turn by each of the twenty-seven Member States in order to ensure a balance amongst the countries of the Union. Each Member State holds the Presidency for six months according to a schedule set several years in advance. Since the Treaty of Lisbon, presidencies have also been organised in groups of three countries, known as ‘trios’, which draw up a joint programme covering eighteen months to ensure continuity in the EU’s work.
Sources:
- Council of the European Union – Presidency of the Council of the European
Union Official overview of how the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union works. - Council of the European Union – The difference between the European Council and the Council of the European
Union: an official explanation of the various European institutions. - Irish Government – Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026
: Programme, priorities and latest news from the Irish Presidency. - Irish Government – Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the opening of the Presidency
Official statements by the Irish Prime Minister regarding the objectives of the Presidency. - European Commission – The institutions and bodies of the European
Union An official overview of the roles of the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. - Court of Justice of the European Union – Apple v Ireland
: Judgments concerning the tax advantages granted to Apple by Ireland. - OECD – International tax reform and the global
minimum tax: An overview of the international agreement on the minimum tax rate for multinationals. - Reuters – Coverage of the start of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European
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