Fine Gael MEPs outline priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency in July

FINE Gael MEPs Seán Kelly, Regina Doherty, Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry have submitted their proposals to the government ahead of the development of Ireland’s priorities and policy programme for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union this year.

Ireland will assume the Presidency from July - a critical time when much policy is due to be finalised at EU level. Negotiations on the EU's next seven-year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, will be in the final stages, while various strategic initiatives concerning competitiveness and capital markets, and the rapidly-evolving geopolitical environment are set to dominate the agenda.

“Ireland will take up the Presidency at a time when Europe faces huge challenges but also huge opportunities. Above all, competitiveness must be the guiding theme. If Europe wants to deliver jobs, growth and security for its citizens, we must lower energy costs, cut red tape, deepen our single market, and unlock investment across the Union,” said MEP Seán Kelly, leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament.

In their submission, the MEPs emphasised that competitiveness should be the central high-level priority for Ireland’s Presidency, building on the recommendations of Mario Draghi’s landmark 2024 report on the future of European Competitiveness.

They listed several key actions from the Draghi report that Ireland should seek to progress at European level during its Presidency, including lowering energy costs and accelerating the roll-out of critical infrastructure, reducing administrative burdens and over-regulation, strengthening the EU Single Market, breaking down barriers to investment, and championing an ambitious Savings and Investment Union.

“The EU has around €10 trillion sitting idle in low-yield accounts across the 27 member states. Our Presidency offers Ireland a unique platform to drive progress on financial policy that will make it easier for citizens and SMEs to put this money to work and drive growth,” MEP Kelly stated.

The MEPs stress that the Presidency must play a central role in shaping a robust and well-resourced MFF for 2028–2034, ensuring continued support for agriculture, rural development, fisheries, research and cohesion.

The delegation called on Ireland to prioritise the delivery of a substantial CAP budget, practical tools to strengthen farmers’ incomes and their competitiveness, progress on the EU’s Livestock Strategy, and constructive leadership on the forthcoming Vision 2040 for Fisheries.

“Our farmers and coastal communities must see a Presidency that delivers for them,” Mr. Kelly continued. “This means adequate incomes, less bureaucracy and red tape, more export opportunities, and a level playing field across the Single Market.

“We see from the new CAP proposals, and last week's disappointing decision on 2026 fish quotas, that we face significant challenges at EU level. Ireland must use its Presidency effectively to deliver for our farmers and fishers.”

The delegation welcomed the European Commission's prioritisation of housing over the past 12-months and called for housing to be a flagship theme of Ireland’s Presidency. Their submission calls for rapid progress on the European Affordable Housing Plan, a Housing Omnibus to streamline rules that slow construction, faster planning processes and digital tools, and improved access to finance for affordable, cost-rental and social housing.

“Across Europe, housing markets face real pressures in terms of high building costs, slow approvals, and constrained supply chains,” Mr. Kelly noted. “Ireland should lead the push for EU-level action that helps deliver more homes, quicker and at lower cost.”

The submission also identifies the importance of simplification in the digital sector as critically important and urged the Presidency to focus on clarity, simplification and safety. The MEPs placed particular emphasis on online safety, calling for the Irish Presidency to deliver major progress on child protection online, and combating online fraud, including misleading advertisements on digital platforms.

“Parents across Europe are deeply concerned about the online activity of their children. Ireland should lead efforts to strengthen safeguards in this regard and crack down on the spread of online fraud,” Mr. Kelly added.

There will be significant foreign policy responsibility falling on the Irish EU Presidency, according to the MEPs. In that context, they are calling for a strong focus on the Middle East, particularly peace efforts and Gaza reconstruction, continued humanitarian, economic and security support for Ukraine, progress on EU-Ukraine accession steps, and renewed momentum in EU-UK relations ahead of the 2026 Trade and Cooperation Agreement review.

Importantly, the MEPs are urging the government to place citizens at the heart of this year's Presidency through a nationwide programme of events demonstrating the tangible benefits of EU membership.

"A successful Irish Presidency is one that brings citizens with us. We need to bring the Presidency to the citizens and let them really experience how the EU improves their lives, strengthens communities, and creates opportunities for them,” Mr. Kelly said.