Ireland and the EU Presidency: The Achievements of 2013 and the Opportunities Ahead

Recorded November 25th, 2025. On 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time since Brexit. This event, in partnership with the global CEO advisory firm Teneo, will reflect on the last time Ireland held the presidency (in 2013) and debate the challenges and opportunities ahead. The event will reflect on challenges and achievements of the 2013 presidency (including the Multiannual Financial Framework, Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020), and debate the challenges and opportunities of the forthcoming presidency. The inaugural Trinity European Laureate Award will be presented to Enda Kenny, who served as Taoiseach during the presidency, and he will speak on what was achieved during that time. This will be followed by a panel discussion with Dr Brigid Laffan (Chancellor of the University of Limerick), Danny McCoy (CEO of IBEC), and Professor Sineád Ryan (Dean of Research, Trinity College Dublin). This event will also mark the launch of the Trinity Long Room Hub’s programme of events around the EU Presidency. Learn more at www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub