1 July 2026 As Ireland today assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, European Movement Ireland has called for the six-month Presidency to become a national moment for dialogue about the future of Europe and the values that underpin the European project.
Launching its new The Europe We Value campaign, which calls for EU values to be central to the Irish Presidency, the organisation will host a nationwide programme of public conversations, events and storytelling over the coming months, inviting people across Ireland to reflect on the kind of Europe they want to see in the years ahead.
The campaign comes at a pivotal moment for Europe. From war on the continent and the Middle East to climate action, artificial intelligence, competitiveness, enlargement and increased threats to democracy, Europe is confronting profound choices that will shape its future. European Movement Ireland says these are not simply policy debates, but questions about the values that define the EU.
While support for Ireland’s membership of the EU remains overwhelmingly strong at 82%, the latest European Movement Ireland Island of Ireland poll also highlights an ongoing challenge around democratic participation, with just 35% of people in Ireland believing their views are adequately represented at EU level, while 37% disagree and more than a quarter remain unsure.
European Movement Ireland believes Ireland’s Presidency offers a timely opportunity to bridge that gap by creating space for meaningful public engagement on Europe’s future.
David Geary, Chief Executive of European Movement Ireland, said:
“Ireland’s Presidency is an opportunity to showcase our leadership in Europe, but it is also an opportunity to reconnect people with the European project itself. At a time when Europe is facing extraordinary challenges, we need to create space for honest conversations about the values we want to guide the union into the future.
“For many people on this island, the EU’s response to Israel’s atrocities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Lebanon has raised difficult questions about consistency in how these values are applied. Others point to democratic backsliding within parts of the Union, or continuing challenges to the rule of law and fundamental rights. These are different issues, but together they have prompted a broader conversation about Europe’s credibility and about the values that will shape the future of the European project.
“The European Union has always been about more than economics or institutions. It is built on shared commitments to democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, equality and respect for human rights. Those values matter most when they are being tested”.
“Our latest polling tells an important story. Irish people continue to strongly support EU membership, but many do not feel their voice is always reflected in European decision-making. That presents an opportunity to use the backdrop of the Presidency to strengthen spaces for public participation in the EU”.
“Through The Europe We Value campaign, we want to hear from people across the country about the values they want to see Europe uphold, where they believe it should go next, and how Ireland can continue to shape that future.”
Over the next six months, European Movement Ireland will bring discussions on Europe’s future into communities across the country through public events, debates, digital engagement and partnerships with civic and business organisations, ensuring that voices from across Ireland contribute to the conversation.
The campaign will explore how European values can help shape responses to some of the defining issues facing the Union, including democracy, security, climate action, competitiveness, digital transformation, migration and Europe’s foreign policy.
As Ireland chairs the Council of the European Union for the eighth time, European Movement Ireland believes the Presidency provides a rare opportunity not only to lead European discussions but also to deepen public understanding of the European project at home.