EUKI Academy Web Seminar: The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU

This Web-Seminar discussed the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union starting July 1st. It was co-organised by CAN Europe, EUKI Academy, European Environmental Bureau, Stop Climate Chaos and the Irish Environmental Network. The session featured introductory remarks from Chiara Martinelli (Director of CanEurope) and key presentations from Philip Nugent (Assistant Secretary for EU International and Marine Affairs at Ireland's Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment), who outlined Ireland's priorities of competitiveness, security, and values, emphasizing the need to shift from crisis management to structural climate action. Other speakers included Clitos Papastiliano (Head of Environmental Policy at Terra Cypria) who shared lessons from Cyprus's presidency, Sven Harmeling (Head of Climate at CAN Europe) and Gerry McEverley (Head of Policy at Friends of the Earth Ireland) who assessed Irish priorities, and Arianna Labassin (European Environmental Bureau) who presented ten points for the Irish Presidency. The Web-Seminar also featured Kira Brennan (Director of Environmental Justice Network Ireland) discussing the Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations and the importance of steering EU budget toward climate action and just transition. Participants raised questions about whole-of-government approaches, access to information, and the balance between competitiveness and environmental ambition during the Q&A session.