European Movement Ireland’s General Election Manifesto
We are calling on all political parties to demonstrate clear positions on European policies and initiatives by including them in their manifestos for the next general election.
Our vision is of an Ireland that contributes to making the European Union fairer and better; an Ireland that recognises that a well-functioning EU is good for all, and an Ireland that fulfils its commitments and collaborates with its EU partners for the common good.
Ahead of Ireland’s next general election, European Movement Ireland presents key recommendations that we wish to see in Irish political parties’ manifestos and the next programme for Government, so that Ireland continues to contribute to a peaceful, progressive, and democratic Europe with economic and social benefits for all.
The upcoming general election presents an opportunity to put Europe on the agenda and engage constructively on the challenges facing Ireland and our European neighbours.
Key Priorities
Implement the recommendations addressed to the Irish Government in the European Commission’s Rule of Law 2024 report. These include addressing legal obstacles faced by Irish civil society organisations to access funding and completing the reform of the Defamation Act to enhance protections for journalists.
At EU level, ensure that the Irish government is championing civil society organisations and that underrepresented groups such as young people, women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, refugees and migrants, and the LGBTQI+ community have a voice and representation in policymaking.
In response to the high level of abuse against elected representatives and their staff, particularly against women, engage with the public to encourage respectful political discourse and debate, and promote safe participation in political life to ensure all groups in Irish society are empowered to stand for election.
Support the European Commission’s efforts to strengthen the application and monitoring of rule of law across the EU.
Following the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention and the adoption of the EU directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence, support the establishment of a formal EU Council configuration on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.
Against the background of rising mis/disinformation, ensure that the public are engaged and informed about referenda and elections by drawing on Ireland’s strong track record of participatory democracy and establishing structured civil society dialogues, particularly in relation to any upcoming EU referenda, for example, on a Unified Patent Court.
Recognise and protect the important role that civil society plays in Ireland in strengthening democracy and human rights, promoting social inclusion, and supporting public services through the provision of and access to funding.
In response to shrinking civic space across Europe and as a follow up to Ireland’s participation in the Conference on the Future of Europe, support civil society calls for the development of a dedicated EU civil society strategy and more regular, structured and transparent dialogue with civil society organisations.
Ahead of the forthcoming elections and referenda, support the work of the Electoral Commission and civil society to increase voter turnout and the promotion of voting rights among EU, non-EU, and naturalised Irish citizens.
Enhance public understanding of the EU and its role in Ireland by integrating learning on European identity, citizenship, and languages into the primary and secondary curricula and redeveloping the Transition Year Programme to embed a unit on Europe, European Politics and Democracy.
Key academics and stakeholders have underlined the skills gap in cybersecurity, AI and disinformation in schools, further and higher education spheres, citing the need for Budget 2025 to correct this by investing more in these sectors.
Provide media literacy training at primary and secondary level to empower students to understand and access broadcast and digital media content in a safe and informed manner, and to equip them with skills to identify mis/disinformation.
Recognising the importance of Irish representation in EU Institutions and the use of Irish as an official EU language, continue to support and develop the government’s A Career for EU strategy.
In line with the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and Ireland’s international obligations, ensure access to healthcare and affordable housing is a priority for the Irish government. Support proposals for the appointment of a Commissioner during the next European Commission, whose responsibilities include housing.
Call for continued commitment across the EU to the goals set out in the European Green Deal and support its full implementation in Ireland.
Ensure that Ireland adequately applies all EU environmental laws and policies, addresses its shortcomings in the areas where implementation has fallen behind including in relation to recycling, urban wastewater, and biodiversity.
With farmers and rural communities across Europe under threat from a number of crises, including climate change and the ongoing uncertainty arising from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, ensure the provision of adequate support to agricultural communities to facilitate a just transition to carbon neutrality, while supporting a sustainable livelihood approach for farming families.
With strong support in Ireland for more countries joining the EU, continue to support and engage with Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, to advance their accession to the EU.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, support Ukraine by continuing to renew the EU’s individual and economic sanctions against Russia. Additionally, reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine in view of the country’s accession to the EU.
Following the UK General Election in July 2024, work closely with the new British Government and the EU to fully implement the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, to ensure a level playing field for businesses and uphold fundamental rights for communities across the whole island.
Against the backdrop of an increasingly uncertain geopolitical context, strengthen Ireland’s European defence and security co-operation whilst respecting Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.
Continue to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, access to humanitarian assistance and the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, call on the EU to conduct an urgent review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to support international accountability efforts and address the root causes of the conflict.
As Ireland prepares to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, ensure compliance with human rights standards and the protection of the rights of refugees and migrants. Urge the EU to ensure that third country agreements on migration are compliant with EU and international law.
26 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, strengthen cooperation between Ireland and Northern Ireland by continuing the positive work of the Shared Island Initiative, with a commitment to ensuring that higher education students in Northern Ireland can continue to avail of Erasmus+ mobilities and internships across the EU post-Brexit. Prioritise engaging citizens and communities in dialogues on issues of mutual concern.
Promote well-developed economic policies that ensure capital markets union, strengthen the single market, support innovation, enable competitiveness, and works to the benefit of all EU citizens.
Ensure that Ireland enforces EU digital regulatory legislation affectively; applying the Digital Services Act, AI Act, Digital Markets Act, and the Terrorist Content Online Regulation across society through enforcing compliance requirements, enhancing citizen digital education and providing mediatory advise to online providers. Equip Coimisiún na Meán with the necessary statutory powers to enforce such acts and continue to support the regulator’s independence.
