Ireland launches inclusive online EU public consultation ahead of 2026 Council Presidency

Ireland opened a five‑week online public consultation on 5 November 2025, eight months before it assumes the EU Council Presidency in 2026. The process invited all citizens to answer five brief questions on priorities, policy focus, and ways the Council can benefit people, businesses and communities across the Union. A total of 484 responses were received from individuals, civil‑society groups, companies, academics and representative bodies.

The consultation highlighted three main priority areas: competitiveness (14.15 % of respondents), values (12.32 %) and health (11.46 %). Within competitiveness, 57.8 % favoured simplification of procedures, while 36.2 % stressed the importance of technological advancement, innovation and research. Officials praised the transparent and inclusive design, noting its role in informing policy choices and raising public awareness of EU affairs, and published a detailed 30‑page summary of the findings.