TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS today updated the Government on preparations for Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Harris, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, told government ministers of Ireland’s proposed hosting of a major EU summit during the upcoming Irish presidency of the European Union next year. 

Ireland will hold the EU Presidency from July to December 2026. During that period, Irish Ministers will be responsible for chairing meetings of the Council and steering the EU’s legislative and policy agenda.

If the offer to host a summit of the European Political Community (EPC), an intergovernmental forum set up after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it would see Ireland hosting 47 heads of state and government from across Europe.  

Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the previous summits.

Representatives from Nato and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have also previously been invited.

If it goes ahead, the summit will take place around the same time as an informal meeting of the European Council, which will involve the 27 EU’s heads of state and government.

Extensive preparations for Ireland’s EU presidency will be required across all government departments, Harris will tell Cabinet.  

Ireland will hold the EU presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2026. It will be the eighth time Ireland has held the presidency. 

Through the term of the presidency, ministers will also be required to chair Council meetings and represent the Council in interactions with EU institutions and other international bodies.

Harris also told Cabinet that scoping work is already underway to identify locations and venues for presidency meetings. 

“We expect to host a summit meeting of the European Political Community in Ireland during the Presidency in 2026,” Harris said in a statement this afternoon.

“This Summit will be one of the most significant high-level international events ever held in Ireland. It is likely to involve up to 47 Heads of State and Government from across the continent of Europe and will be a unique opportunity for Ireland to take a leadership role at international level.”

Harris added that this summit will be one part of “an extensive programme” of Presidency events in Ireland, which will also include an informal meeting of the European Council, between 16 and 20 informal Council meetings at Ministerial level, and a wide range of conferences and other events.

“Preparations for our Presidency are well advanced and we are determined to deliver a Presidency which delivers for Ireland, which delivers for Europe and which delivers for our global partners,” Harris said.