Sir, – As Ireland assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union, success will inevitably be measured by the agreements brokered in Brussels. Yet the presidency also offers an important opportunity to engage Irish citizens in a conversation about the kind of Europe we want to help shape.
The EU faces profound challenges. From Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East to climate change, artificial intelligence, competitiveness and enlargement, the decisions facing the European Union are not just matters of policy. They are also questions about the values that will shape Europe’s future.
The EU’s founding commitments to democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, equality and human rights matter most when they are tested. For many Irish people the union’s response to Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon has raised difficult questions about the consistency with which these values are applied.
Others point to democratic backsliding within some member states and increasing restrictions on civil society as other examples of waning commitment to EU values. These are legitimate debates that deserve to be confronted openly rather than avoided. Ireland has shown leadership on these issues in the past and is well placed to do so in the coming months.
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The challenge is not one of public support.
Recent polling by European Movement Ireland found that 82 per cent of people continue to support Ireland’s membership of the European Union.
The greater challenge is ensuring people feel their voices are reflected in European decision-making. Only 35 per cent believe their views are adequately represented in EU decision-making. Ireland’s presidency offers a rare opportunity to narrow that gap.
The Government is to be commended for making values one of the three pillars of its presidency. The opportunity now is to show courageous leadership in Brussels, ensuring these values are reflected in Europe’s decisions, while also being part of the public conversation at home about Europe’s future. – Yours, etc,
DAVID GEARY,
Chief executive,
European Movement Ireland,
Dublin 2.
