Ireland's EU Council Presidency costs rise to €293 million, security upgrades planned

Ireland assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. The Irish government estimates the total cost of the six‑month term at about €293 million, with almost half allocated to security and police measures. The high price reflects the need to protect a series of more than 250 events, including the November meeting of the European Political Community that will host leaders from 47 European countries.

The emphasis on security follows a recent incident in December 2025 when four unidentified military‑type drones entered the airspace near Dublin Airport during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, exposing Ireland’s limited air‑ defence capabilities. Ireland, which spends roughly 0.2 % of GDP on defence and lacks functional radar and anti‑drone systems, is considering additional EU military assistance and foreign security specialists to safeguard air and maritime approaches during its presidency.

The presidency follows Cyprus’s term and will be succeeded by Lithuania in January 2027. Irish officials emphasize transparency and accountability for the unprecedented budget, while opposition leaders call for scrutiny of the rising expenses.