With 2026 fast approaching, we’ve submitted our input to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s consultation on the priorities for Ireland’s EU Presidency (July–December 2026).
This is a huge opportunity to champion education — including securing the 10% ring-fencing of the EU humanitarian budget for Education in Emergencies, and ensuring adequate, ring-fenced funding for education across INTPA and other EU instruments. Education must be a priority across EU Foreign Policy, Development and Humanitarian Aid, Gender Equality, and Climate Action.
But this is about more: We’re calling on the Irish Government to prioritise above else the values on which the EU was built: Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, the Rule of Law, and Human Rights.
We can’t stress this enough! 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.
We are placing our faith in the Irish government to make a strong case for democracy and human rights—as the foundation for a world where everyone can realise their right to inclusive, equitable, safe, and quality education.
🔗Read the full submission here.
🔗Learn all about our contributions to the preparations here.
📣 Help amplify this call as we move towards 2026 and share our LinkedIn post.
