Ireland today assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union with the motto Ní neart go cur le chéile (‘Strength with unity’). The Presidency will run until 31 December 2026 and will focus on the following themes:

• Competitiveness – fostering prosperity and wellbeing;
• Values – upholding the indispensable foundation of the European Union; 
• Security – protecting EU citizens.

Over the coming months, the Presidency will take forward work on a wide range of EU priorities, including justice and home affairs issues relevant to the EU’s response to serious and organised crime, emerging threats and the protection of citizens. It will also work on initiatives spanning all three of the above themes, including ongoing support for Ukraine and strengthening and stabilising the EU’s relationships with its neighbours and partners around the world.

This is Ireland’s eighth EU presidency and the first since Irish became a fully-operational working language of the EU in January 2022. Demonstrating the Union’s commitment to linguistic diversity, Irish will feature prominently in Council business, official communications and cultural events over the six months. Ireland takes over the Presidency from Cyprus and will pass the role onto Lithuania on 1 January 2027.

Horizontal Working Party on Drugs 
During its mandate, Ireland will chair the Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG)(1), with a focus on: monitoring and supporting the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy and EU Action Plan against drug trafficking; supporting the progression of cooperation projects; and organising research and innovation dialogues in partnership with the EUDA. Other priorities include evidence-based prevention and addressing health inequalities. In line with the Presidency’s outward-looking dimension, Ireland will advance dialogues on drugs with third countries and key partners, including the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Western Balkans.

Key events in the Presidency programme include: 

• 15-18 September: EUSPR Conference 'Innovation in Prevention to Support Health Equity';
  18-20 November: National Drug Coordinators’ meeting 'Responses to drug use amongst people who are homeless'.

The EUDA will support the Irish Presidency by providing scientific evidence, analysis and technical expertise to inform the HDG’s discussions and to support policymaking. The agency will also contribute to international dialogues and cooperation activities, helping to ensure that European and global responses to drug-related challenges are grounded in the latest evidence and best practice.

EUDA Executive Director, Dr Lorraine Nolan said: 'For the European Union Drugs Agency, the Presidency will be an opportunity to contribute data, analysis and expertise to EU discussions on drug-related challenges in the justice and home affairs area. I look forward to working closely with Irish Presidency and supporting its work over the coming months'.

Notes
(1) The HDG is responsible for leading and managing the Council's work in the drugs domain and carries out legislative and general policy work in the areas of supply reduction and demand reduction. Its main goals are to: develop EU legislation, strategies, action plans and other relevant documents in the drugs field; exchange information between EU Member States and with third countries on national policies; and coordinate measures taken by Member States both in Europe and beyond.