Minister McEntee marks Europe Day as Ireland prepares for EU Council Presidency

Minister McEntee marks Europe Day as Ireland prepares for EU Council Presidency

• From: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Published on: 9 May 2026
• Last updated on: 9 May 2026

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, has welcomed Europe Day 2026 as an opportunity for Ireland to celebrate its place in Europe and reflect on the benefits of EU membership ahead of Ireland assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2026.

Europe Day is celebrated each year on 9 May, marking the anniversary of the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations for what would later become the European Union.

Minister McEntee said: "This year, perhaps more than ever before, Europe Day gives Ireland an opportunity to celebrate our place in Europe and to reflect on the many ways EU membership has benefited people across our country.

"As we prepare to take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I am proud to see communities, schools and local organisations already engaging so positively with that journey. There is a real sense of energy and enthusiasm building across the country."

A number of events are taking place nationwide to mark Europe Day this year, including Ministerial visits to schools over a two-week period. Many of these visits are being attended jointly by Government Ministers and Ambassadors from EU Member States, reflecting the strong spirit of partnership at the heart of Ireland's approach to its upcoming EU Presidency.

The visits form part of the County Pairing initiative, one of the flagship public engagement programmes developed as part of Ireland's Presidency preparations. Announced in January 2026, the initiative pairs each Irish county with an EU Member State. Through the programme, EU Ambassadors in Ireland and Irish Ambassadors across Europe are working together to engage with communities in their paired counties.

The initiative is designed to ensure that Ireland's EU Presidency is felt not only in Dublin, but in towns, villages and communities right across the country.

Minister McEntee added: "It has been hugely encouraging to see the warmth and enthusiasm with which schools and communities have embraced the County Pairing initiative and the wider spirit of the Presidency.

"I look forward to seeing that sense of connection and shared purpose continue to grow in the months ahead."

She continued: "Europe Day reminds us of the importance of European co-operation and of the vision that helped shape the peace, stability and prosperity we enjoy across Europe today.

"As Ireland prepares to take on a leading role within the European Union, it is both a privilege and an honour to help carry that shared legacy forward."