The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union gets underway, facing challenges in the areas of social cohesion and the financial framework [editar]
The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union begins, in a crucial six-month period marked by priorities in competitiveness, values and security, and featuring key issues for equality and social cohesion, such as the EU’s future financial framework
The Irish programme offers significant opportunities to strengthen the agenda for equality, social inclusion and participation, particularly in areas such as the fight against poverty, housing, the Child Guarantee, non-discrimination, cohesion policy and the EU’s future financial framework.
Under the motto “Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength through unity”, the Irish Presidency has, since 1 July 2026, been pursuing a political programme focused on action and achieving results. Although competitiveness is central to the agenda, the official document links this objective to the defence of European values, social cohesion, inclusion, equality and the protection of fundamental rights. In this regard, the Irish Presidency may be of particular relevance to the Roma community, as the programme itself expressly sets out a commitment to supporting the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework for the Equality, Inclusion and Participation of the Roma 2020–2030.
One of the most important priorities will be the negotiation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, which will set out the Union’s budgetary priorities for the coming years. The Irish Presidency regards this process as a cross-cutting priority and emphasises that the future European budget must support key policies such as Cohesion Policy. European funds remain a crucial tool for financing measures relating to social inclusion, education, employment, the fight against discrimination, housing and inclusive local development.
Equality, non-discrimination and the rights of the Roma community
Ireland is committed to advancing the European legal framework on equality and to seeking a Council agreement on the directive on the application of the principle of equal treatment. Furthermore, the programme states that European action on equality, rights and non-discrimination is essential to building a fair, competitive and prosperous Europe for all.
This approach is particularly relevant to the Roma population, as the document expressly states that the Presidency will defend the rights of Traveller and Roma communities through the exchange of knowledge on equal rights and safe environments, and that it will support the implementation of the European Strategic Framework for Roma 2020–2030.
The Presidency also plans to advance work on equality data, a key issue for improving the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies. Improving the collection, analysis and use of equality data can contribute to a better understanding of the intersectional discrimination affecting many Roma people, particularly women, children, young people, people with disabilities and families living in poverty.
Combating poverty and strengthening the European Pillar of Social Rights
The social agenda for the Irish Presidency also includes key priorities for the Roma community, such as reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and improving social inclusion across the EU. Furthermore, it recognises that social exclusion disproportionately affects the unemployed, single-parent families, migrant communities and ethnic minorities, as well as people with disabilities.
All of this ties in with the strengthening of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which provides a significant opportunity to emphasise that European anti-poverty strategies must explicitly take into account the situation of the Roma community.
The European Child Guarantee: a key priority for Roma children
It also places children amongst its social priorities, noting that social investment and measures to tackle child poverty generate long-term economic and social benefits, and that it will support the strengthening of the European Child Guarantee with the aim of improving the circumstances and outcomes of disadvantaged children, with a particular focus on support for parents.
Housing, residential exclusion and homelessness
Housing will be another key issue, with a specific focus on housing exclusion and homelessness. Following the publication of the European Strategy against Poverty, work will begin on the draft Council Recommendation on combating housing exclusion. This exclusion is defined as the inability to access or maintain decent and stable housing in the EU, with particular attention paid to vulnerable people in precarious housing situations and to measures to prevent and tackle homelessness.
The forthcoming Recommendation is of great importance to the Roma community, given that housing exclusion, substandard housing conditions, segregated settlements, evictions, barriers to accessing the rental market and discrimination in the housing market remain structural problems in many European countries.
Cohesion policy, territorial development and European funds
The informal meeting of ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, scheduled to take place in Dublin on 14 and 15 September 2026, will be an important milestone for discussing the future design and funding of the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. It is hoped that an agreement can be reached between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council by the end of 2026, despite the conflicting positions.
Cohesion Policy will be a key issue, defined as a fundamental tool for reducing social, economic and territorial disparities.
The programme emphasises the need for place-based solutions, for strengthening local capacities and for promoting multi-level governance structures involving cities, regions, social partners and other stakeholders.
The European Roma Platform and civil society participation
The European Roma Platform will take place this term, specifically on 5 November. The Presidency’s agenda includes numerous priorities directly linked to the objectives of the European Strategic Framework for the Roma: equality, combating discrimination, poverty, housing, children, cohesion, democratic participation and the use of European funds.
The European Roma Platform remains the main European forum for dialogue between EU institutions, national governments, international organisations and Roma and pro-Roma civil society. The European Commission defines it as a forum to foster cooperation and the exchange of experiences on the inclusion of the Roma population..