Between 1st July and 31st December 2026, Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). This is a crucial opportunity for Ireland to steer the EU’s policy and legislative agenda.
Over the six-month Presidency, Ireland shapes the agenda of the Council and its policy and legislative agenda. Irish Ministers and officials lead Council meetings and preparatory bodies, while also acting on behalf of the Council in interactions with other EU institutions.
This is a crucial opportunity to champion education in the EU’s Foreign Policy, Development and Humanitarian Aid, Gender Equality, and Climate Action.
But this is about more: In these challenging times, the Irish Government must prioritise above else the values on which the EU was built: Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, the Rule of Law, and Human Rights .
These values are non-negotiable and must find a confident, principled, and vocal champion in the Irish EU Presidency—ready to defend and to advance them.
An essential underpinning of this is the safeguarding of reliable, principled, and impactful development and humanitarian assistance—where human dignity, not economic considerations, stands at the centre.
This is crucial as a foundation for a world where everyone can realise their right to inclusive, equitable, safe, and quality education.
At INEW, we are actively contributing as preparations for the Irish EU Presidency advance:
- We’ve participated in an insightful and engaging consultation event with stakeholders organised by Irish Aid and DFAT at Iveagh House on 4th December.
- And we have submitted our written contribution to the DFAT’s consultation to develop the Irish priorities. Our submission outlines both our vision for the Irish EU Presidency and our recommendations on priorities for the EU’s upcoming policy and legislative agenda, aiming to safeguard and advance the right to inclusive, equitable, safe, and quality education throughout Ireland’s Presidency.
The submission will be considered as part of the development of Ireland’s Presidency priorities and policy programme. The DFAT will publish a summary thematic report in due time. Learn more here.
In Ireland’s programme for its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union we particularly welcome the programme’s strong emphasis on the values at the heart of the European Union. This reflects a key message of INEW’s submission to the Presidency consultation process.
We also welcome Ireland’s commitment to spotlighting the European Union as the world’s largest development and humanitarian actor. This leadership is urgently needed in a world facing increasing humanitarian needs, displacement, conflict and climate-related challenges. The EU has a critical role to play in ensuring that no one is left behind.
Meanwhile education is notably absent as an explicit priority of the Irish programme for the EU’s foreign policy. This is a missed opportunity. Education is one of the most powerful drivers of human development, economic growth, gender equality, peace and long-term stability. It is also a foundation for the success of investments in competitiveness and security. Human development and education are not competing with these priorities, with especially education as an enabler of sustainable progress, resilience and impact of investments across all sectors.
For this reason, Ireland’s ambition to tackle poverty and the impacts of geopolitical crises and emerging challenges is intrinsically linked to strengthening education systems worldwide.
As discussions on the future of EU external action and the next Multiannual Financial Framework advance, we will continue to advocate for:
- Education as a core strategic priority within the EU’s Global Europe architecture.
- Strong financial commitments and spending targets for human development and education.
- Continued EU support for multilateral partnerships, including the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW).
- A stronger education dimension within the Global Gateway strategy.
- Investment in Global Citizenship Education (GCE) both within and outside the EU, especially within the 2028−2034 MFF.
At a time of intersecting global crises and increasing pressure on public budgets, investing in education remains one of the smartest and most effective investments the EU can make for a more prosperous, peaceful and resilient future.
