European Movement Ireland

Connecting Ireland and Europe.

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

European Movement Ireland have launched our Irish Presidency Calendar for Ireland’s 8th EU Presidency! 🇮🇪🇪🇺

Your handy guide to every crucial meeting or important piece of business happening during the Irish Presidency! 🗓️

Get yours today on European Movement Ireland’s website at the link below! 🔗

https://t.co/uCeCAQp7WH

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 As our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign comes to a close, we want to thank everyone who took part and shared their voices, experiences, and visions for the future of Europe.

Over the past number of weeks, we’ve heard from advocates, campaigners, community leaders, and organisations working every day to protect and promote the EU values of Democracy, Human Dignity, Equality, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law. From migrant rights and disability justice, to gender equality, language rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and access to justice, these conversations have highlighted the importance of building a Europe grounded in dignity, solidarity, and inclusion.

With Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU beginning in earnest tomorrow, July 1st, we hope this campaign has helped shine a light on the values that matter most to communities across the island of Ireland.

If you missed any of the interviews, you can still visit our website to watch the full series calling on the Irish government to ensure EU values remain at the forefront of the Presidency.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmFT9T

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, John Prendergast, Bainisteoir Abhcóideachta at @CnaG , spoke with us about the EU value of Human Rights, and why protecting and advancing the Irish language is central to dignity, equality, and cultural rights.

Through engagement with politicians in Leinster House and members of the European Parliament, John advocates for a level playing field for the Irish language and supports its continued resurgence and revitalisation both nationally and internationally. Prendergast believes Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency is an important opportunity to end the derogation on the use of Irish within the European Parliament and wider EU institutions, allowing for more interpreters and stronger language infrastructure across the European Union.

🗣️ “I’d like to see the Irish government seize this opportunity during the presidency to embed the Irish language in the culture and practices of this country, because it would fulfil human rights and language rights for the people of the Gaeltacht.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmGqZr

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, John Prendergast, Bainisteoir Abhcóideachta at @CnaG , spoke with us about the EU value of Human Rights, and why protecting and advancing the Irish language is central to dignity, equality, and cultural rights.

Through engagement with politicians in Leinster House and members of the European Parliament, John advocates for a level playing field for the Irish language and supports its continued resurgence and revitalisation both nationally and internationally. Prendergast believes Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency is an important opportunity to end the derogation on the use of Irish within the European Parliament and wider EU institutions, allowing for more interpreters and stronger language infrastructure across the European Union.

🗣️ “I’d like to see the Irish government seize this opportunity during the presidency to embed the Irish language in the culture and practices of this country, because it would fulfil human rights and language rights for the people of the Gaeltacht.”

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of National Women’s Council, spoke with us about the EU value of Equality, and why advancing women’s rights requires both strong advocacy and accessible support services on the ground.

Corrinne highlighted the importance of ensuring women are properly resourced and informed about their rights, including access to healthcare supports such as the free contraception scheme. With one in two women experiencing violence and many still travelling abroad to access abortion services, Hasson stresses the importance of examining policy through a gendered lens to ensure equality is fully realised in practice.

🗣️ “Whenever we’re looking at socioeconomic policies, when we’re looking at legislation, we put a gendered lens on them, to see how will this impact women and not to have gender as an add-on.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmGqZr

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Conor O’Donnell, member of the National Advisory Council at @DownSyndromeIRL , spoke with us about the EU value of Human Rights, and the importance of ensuring people with additional needs are fully included in society.

Conor highlighted the everyday challenges many people face in accessing public transport, housing, employment, and other essential services, stressing that human rights must remain at the centre of policymaking. Through engaging with politicians and government representatives, he says advocacy plays a crucial role in ensuring the voices of people with disabilities are heard and respected.

Conor believes Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency is an important opportunity to shine a light on disability rights and promote greater respect, inclusion, and dignity for all people.

🗣️ “We’re talking about the right to work, or to get married, our right to be born free and equal…Being able to advocate, being able to speak up for themselves, and no matter what they go through in life. Nothing about us without us!”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmFT9T

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Dara Keeve, Policy & Legal Officer at Committee on the @CAJNi , to speak the EU Value of Equality, and how protecting language rights, environmental rights, and tackling hate crime are all essential to building an inclusive society.

Dara highlighted the importance of Irish language rights within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement, including commitments to promote and protect the Irish language. Her organisation works alongside groups such as @CnaG to advance language standards, including greater access to bilingual signage. Keeve also stressed the importance of protecting the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) at a time when far-right movements across Europe are seeking to weaken its protections.

🗣️ “We would like the Irish government to promote the importance of the ECHR and the fact that it protects our fundamental human rights and to also highlight the unique relationship between the Good Friday Agreement and the ECHR during its Presidency.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmGqZr

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, @FatenSourani @trocaire , Palestinian Human Rights Campaigner, detailed how Israel’s genocide against the people of Palestine has undermined the EU’s core value of Human Rights.

Faten points to the continued public support in Ireland for meaningful action to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people, and says Ireland has an opportunity to lead within the EU by refusing to continue business-as-usual with Israel while international law is being violated.

🗣️ “Ireland and the EU both have an obligation to prevent genocide that is being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmFT9T

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Seán Binder, @FrHumanitarians , spoke with us about the EU value of Freedom, notably the freedom of movement and freedom of expression.

Given the prosecution he faced for his search and rescue work assisting people at risk of drowning in Greece, Seán reflects on the moment of his arrest, his time in prison alongside asylum seekers facing what he describes as “vapid” charges backed by little evidence, and the recent acquittal that finally secured his freedom.

🗣️ “Many of those asylum seekers did not receive a fair trial. They had a 15 minute long trial in a language they did not understand, where they were sentenced to decades in prison.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗https://t.co/TQV2mmGqZr

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Emily Bourke, Policy and Participation Manager at Belong To, spoke with us about the EU value of Equality, and how centring the authentic voices of young people shapes the organisation’s work and advocacy.

Through youth work, education programmes, drugs and alcohol services, and its Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), Belong To’s work is driven by the lived experiences and insights of young people themselves. And while Ireland has built an international reputation as a progressive force for equality, Emily stresses that women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and migrant rights are increasingly coming under attack. She says maintaining equality as a priority, with ambition and commitment, is more important than ever.

🗣️ “It is something that we’ve seen across the EU, not just in Ireland, that women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, migrant rights, have come under attack. And it’s something that we really want to see remain on the agenda, and remain something that Ireland pursues as a priority.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/OMv1QbxsG1

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Maria McCloskey, Executive Director of Irish Rule of Law International, spoke with us about the EU value of Rule of Law, and how providing access to justice and collaborating across jurisdiction protects the democratic system as a whole.

By taking stock of the challenges surrounding access to justice, Maria says Ireland has an important opportunity with the upcoming EU Presidency to ensure that the rule of law is strongly upheld on the EU stage.

🗣️ “In our recent strategic plan, we have taken a very conscious decision to focus on the rule of law as a value. It’s in our strategic objectives as a particular area of focus for us being a collaborator and a partner with other organisations in promoting the role that the rule of law plays in democratic societies.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗https://t.co/TQV2mmGqZr

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Next in our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Lucky Khambule, co-Founder of @masi_asylu , spoke with us about the EU value of Human Dignity, and how fighting for the rights of asylum seekers living in direct provision has shaped his organisation’s ethos.

Lucky says his organisation opposed the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum because it would make it harder for people to seek protection, fight deportation, and would undermine children’s rights, freedom, justice, and dignity.

🗣️ “When you are in direct provision, we felt that our dignity has been stripped away from us. We believe that once you lose that dignity, you lose yourself.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/TQV2mmFT9T

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🇺🇦🇮🇪 European Movement Ireland were delighted to hold an excellent meeting yesterday with Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland Larysa Gerasko (@GeraskoLarysa).

CEO David Geary and H.E Gerasko enjoyed a fruitful discussion on the state of Ukraine, EU membership, and much more.

@UKRinIRL

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🌟 Kicking off our ‘For the Europe We Value’ campaign, Liliana Fernandez, Director of National Voter Registration Day, spoke with us about the EU value of Democracy, and how representation is essential in our political system.

With low representation of women and migrants on the political stage, Liliana’s work promotes civic participation and political education.

🗣️ “We really need people around the table who are experienced, that have our lived experiences, and can speak about the issues that affect us all.”

If you would like to learn more about our campaign For the Europe We Value – a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom visit our website where you can watch all our interviews in one place.

🔗 https://t.co/YklUaSxPJo

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

What Kind of Europe Will Ireland Represent?

European Movement Ireland’s campaign For the Europe we Value, highlights ordinary people across Ireland who promote EU values in their everyday work. Through their work every day, they help to build a Europe where human rights, freedom and dignity are respected and where equality, democracy and the rule of law are seen as indispensable.

But the values that make many of us proud to be European, are increasingly at risk. EU values and fundamental rights are being inconsistently applied and undermined in policymaking. From the EU’s response to Israel’s atrocities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Lebanon; weakened protections for people on the move, restrictions on the right to peaceful protest and diluted sustainability and environmental regulation, EU values are under threat. The far right is also intensifying its attacks on values, while we witness democratic backsliding and threats to civil society in some member states.

European values matter; they should be protected and celebrated every day.

We value a Europe that stands up for human rights, dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and freedom and we call on the Irish government to ensure that the EU does too.

Learn more here 👉 https://t.co/YklUaSxPJo

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

Do you enjoy storytelling? What about Europe?
Fabulous! 🤩
Because European Movement Ireland are hosting an event this Thursday, 18th June in Dublin to hear all about peoples' experiences at home and abroad.
Check out our website for more! 🔗 https://t.co/28iP9OHSrA

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

🤔What does Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency actually entail?

🇪🇺 From setting the agenda to ​leading peace agreements, this Just The Facts outlines everything you need to know about the Council of the European Union and how it impacts EU decision-making.

🔍 For more information, please visit: https://t.co/z8I2gAHJii

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

📚 The Blue Star Programme 2026/27 is officially underway!

Minister of State for European Affairs @ThomasByrneTD launched the award-winning programme at St. Patrick’s National School, Stamullen, Co. Meath, as Ireland prepares to take on the Presidency of the @EUCouncil.

The @BlueStarProg gives primary school pupils across Ireland the opportunity to learn about the EU through creative, engaging and curriculum-linked activities, exploring European history, geography, culture, creativity and the work of EU institutions.

📚 Registrations for the 2026/27 programme are now open. Schools across Ireland are encouraged to sign up and get involved.

Read the full press release here 👇 https://t.co/e26Dhw5kcN

[European Movement Ireland @emireland]

With less than four weeks to go to the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, European Movement Ireland is looking forward to working to ensure that the Irish public is engaged and involved in the Presidency. We will be launching our Presidency calendar and resources in the coming weeks.

Watch this space…