Can the Irish EU Council Presidency Empower Europe Through Green Diplomacy?
by Robin Stockmann, EUKI/GIZ
On 1st July 2026, a time shaped by a multitude of challenges for the EU, Ireland has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. To provide an overview, CAN Europe and the EUKI Academy recently hosted the web seminar “The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU”, cooperating with Stop Climate Chaos, the Irish Environmental Network and the European Environmental Bureau. Policymakers and civil society representatives discussed what to expect from Ireland’s six-month term and how the presidency could shape European climate and energy policy.
The political context Ireland inherits is a challenging one. In recent years, EU priorities have increasingly shifted towards competitiveness, security and economic resilience. Several important climate files have remained unresolved, as Chiara Martinelli said, Director of CAN Europe. The review of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), progress on electricity grids and preparations for the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP) are now among the key dossiers awaiting political agreement.
Reflecting on the preceding Cypriot Presidency, Klitos Papastylianou, Head of Environmental Policy at Terra Cypria, noted that geopolitical instability and ongoing conflicts shifted political attention. They left less room for environmental priorities. He stressed that stronger cooperation between national civil society organisations and pan-European networks will be key to strengthen the position of ambitious climate action on the EU agenda during Ireland’s Presidency.
Despite these challenges, Ireland enters the presidency with a strong reputation for climate diplomacy and constructive European engagement. Philip Nugent, Assistant Secretary for EU, International and Marine Affairs at Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, underlined that Ireland intends to act as an honest broker, putting European interests above national positions.
Climate Action through Competitiveness and Security
Ireland’s presidency will be guided by three overarching priorities: competitiveness, security and European values. Rather than seeing these objectives as conflicting priorities, the Irish government aims to demonstrate that ambitious climate action can strengthen Europe’s economic resilience and improve food and energy security.
According to Nugent, competitiveness should not be understood solely in economic terms. Investments in clean technologies, electrification and modern energy infrastructure are equally essential for strengthening Europe’s resilience in an ever more uncertain geopolitical environment. At the same time, Ireland reaffirmed its commitment to multilateral cooperation, describing it as indispensable for addressing global challenges such as climate change.
“Multilateralism is the only way to tackle all the problems we’re facing now.”
Philip Nugent, Assistant Secretary for EU, International and Marine Affairs at Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Building on the foundations of the European Green Deal, Ireland intends to further advance climate legislation, positioning climate policy as a driver of prosperity and security rather than a burden for European economies.
Sven Harmeling, Head of Climate at CAN Europe, underlined that to achieve these objectives, addressing the climate and fossil fuel crises must go hand in hand with the EU’s priorities of competitiveness and security. Looking beyond the current legislative cycle, he stressed the need to create a strong climate and energy framework post-2030. This should include binding targets and measures to end the EU’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Next Steps: Implementing Ambitious Climate Action
Several speakers emphasised that the Irish Presidency will largely be about implementation rather than launching entirely new initiatives. The speakers identified three milestones as indicators of a successful presidency: reaching a political agreement on the review of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), advancing the electricity grids package and preparing a common European position ahead of the next COP.
Strengthening Europe’s grid infrastructure is widely agreed upon as crucial not only for decarbonisation but also for ensuring energy security and industrial competitiveness. International climate diplomacy will also play a central role during Ireland’s presidency. Rather than arriving at COP with lengthy negotiating positions, Ireland hopes the European Union can present a focused and united message centred on mitigation and climate finance.
“We need to treat climate diplomacy as a 365-day thing rather than a two-week thing in November.”
Philip Nugent, Assistant Secretary for EU, International and Marine Affairs at Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Balancing Simplification with Climate Ambition
Civil society organisations broadly welcomed Ireland’s intention to focus on implementation while maintaining the objectives of the European Green Deal. Arianna Labassin from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) highlighted that the Irish Presidency appears committed to ensure that ongoing simplification efforts remain scientifically grounded rather than becoming a vehicle for weakening environmental legislation.
Jerry Mac Evilly from Friends of the Earth Ireland highlighted the importance of developing a strong Social Climate Plan to ensure that the transition remains fair and socially inclusive.
Speakers cautioned that the growing political emphasis on competitiveness and regulatory simplification carries risks. Ciara Brennan, Director of the Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI), stressed that discussions on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will be crucial for ensuring that Europe’s climate ambitions are backed by adequate public investment. She draws her position on the findings of the newly published Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI) paper Steering the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework towards Climate Action and Just Transition: The Role of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The paper argues that the Irish Presidency has a key opportunity to help align the EU budget with climate action, a just transition and democratic accountability. Adequate public investment, participants argued, will be essential if Europe’s climate targets are to remain credible.
“The 2040 climate target is only delivering if the money behind it is green.”
Dr Ciara Brennan, Director of EJNI
Ireland as a Bridge Builder for Climate Diplomacy
The discussion also looked beyond Ireland’s presidency. Participants noted that future Council Presidencies may place even stronger emphasis on security and competitiveness while reducing attention to climate and social priorities. Some warned that this political shift could make it harder to maintain ambitious climate policies.
Against this backdrop, Ireland is widely seen as a potential bridge builder. By linking climate ambition with competitiveness, strengthening European energy infrastructure and maintaining a strong commitment to multilateralism, the Irish Presidency could keep climate action firmly on the European agenda while building consensus among Member States.
As Europe endures a politically complex period, Ireland’s success may ultimately depend on its ability to demonstrate that climate action is not separate from Europe’s economic and security priorities—but an essential part of addressing them.
“We think that the Irish presidency is a really important opportunity to help promote an EU budget, aligning competitiveness with decarbonisation, flexibility with safeguards and simplification with democratic accountability.”
Dr Ciara Brennan, Director of EJNI