Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU
From 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2013, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This will be the seventh time that Ireland has undertaken this important role. On this occasion, it also coincides with the fortieth anniversary of Ireland's membership of the EU.
The Presidency rotates among the 27 Member States of the EU every six months. The presiding Member State is responsible for advancing the EU's work agenda, and has an opportunity to shape and influence EU policy and legislation. The Presidency also represents the Council in its dealings with other EU Institutions, including the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The main priorities of the Irish Presidency are:
- Promoting sustainable economic growth and jobs and strengthening Europe's competitive advantage
- Restoring stability and confidence through effective economic governance for Europe
- Supporting growth and reform
The national priority themes for the Youth Council Presidency aim:
- to promote understanding of the contribution of quality youth work (non-formal learning) to young people's development, well-being and social inclusion and
- to maximise the potential of youth policy and youth services in attaining the goals of Europe 2020, in particular to addressing the youth employment challenge.
DCYA media related to the EU Presidency
Full details on Ireland's Presidency 2013 can be found at www.eu2013.ie.
Find out more about Ireland, the EU and Ireland's Presidency of the EU:
