As Ireland officially takes up the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, MEP for Ireland South, has issued a strong call to action, demanding that the six-month term be driven by local communities as much as by high-powered, European political meetings behind closed doors.
Speaking from the European Parliament on the morning of this historic milestone, last Wednesday Ní Mhurchú emphasised that this presidency marks a definitive crossroads for Ireland’s relationship with Europe.
She insisted that the next six months should not just be defined by diplomatic and political motorcades in Dublin, Cork and elsewhere, but by grass-roots engagement in community halls, schools, sports clubs, and voluntary organisations across every parish in Ireland.
“Today, the 1st of July, Ireland takes the helm of the European Union and its Council of governments, at a time of immense global transition and domestic challenge,” Ní Mhurchú stated.
“While the traditional approach to an EU Presidency focuses heavily on hosting elite ministerial summits, complex legislative and file negotiations, and high-level political deal-making, I am firmly of the belief that our focus must shift to actively include communities.
The success of this Irish Presidency should not only be measured by the number and success of political meetings held around the country Dublin but by how deeply we remind citizens of the value of our European membership and link European progress to our local communities and community organisations so as to renew and increase trust in our European institutions.”
Ní Mhurchú argued that the true strength of the European Union lies not in its central institutions in Brussels or Strasbourg, but in the small towns and villages that form the backbone of Member States.
She called on the government to ensure that funding and event schedules for the presidency are heavily tilted towards supporting civic infrastructure and localized public engagement.
The Ireland South MEP outlined that the coming months offer an unprecedented, once-in-a-generation window of opportunity for Irish citizens, civic groups, and local organisations to actively champion, challenge and promote the true value of the EU within Irish society.
Ní Mhurchú noted that while Ireland has historically enjoyed strong public consensus in favour of EU membership, that support must never be taken for granted and needs to be continually revitalised through meaningful engagement.
“For over five decades, European solidarity has been the cornerstone of our economic development, environmental protection, and social progress,” Ní Mhurchú continued.
“From the transformative impact of Leader funding in rural towns to European structural investment in our roads infrastructure, the EU is woven into the fabric of Irish life. However, Europe often feels distant to the ordinary citizen. This Presidency gives our local community groups, agricultural cooperatives, environmental trusts, schools, clubs, and youth organisations a powerful platform to demonstrate exactly how European policy translates into positive, real-world change on the ground. It is an opportunity to showcase the tangible, enduring value of European co-operation to everyday Irish society.”
“The traditional, top-down structure of European decision-making no longer works for our citizens” Ní Mhurchú said.
“True democratic legitimacy flows upward from the ground. Our citizens do not want to be handed ready-made policies formulated in faraway negotiating chambers. They want to be active architects of the European project.
Over the next six months, our MEPS, our government and state institutions must actively go out into the regions and engage with the ordinary citizen. We need town hall debates, community-led forums, and open dialogues where local voices directly influence the European agenda on vital issues like rural regeneration, the just transition, regional development, and social inclusion.”
Ní Mhurchú concluded by reminding the public that European laws become Irish laws in areas as different as domestic violence and air passenger, meaning that democratic participation at the community level is more critical than ever.
She expressed her commitment to spending the presidency touring her constituency of Ireland South, acting as a bridge between community initiatives and the broader workbook of Council’s priorities.
“Ireland has always been recognized as a constructive, community-focused member of the European Union. Let us lead this Presidency by example. Let us demonstrate to our European partners that a modern, progressive Union is built from the bottom up, one community, one village, and one parish at a time. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with our local groups across Ireland South to ensure their voices echo loudly and clearly at the very heart of Europe during this monumental term.”
