Prior to the regular TEPSA Pre-Presidency Conferences, TEPSA has a tradition of formulating recommendations to present to the incoming Council presidency. At the Irish Pre-Presidency Conference in Dublin on 11 and 12 June 2026, TEPSA presented these recommendations to the incoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
In addition to the introduction penned by TEPSA Board Members Erik Jones (Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute & Carnegie Europe) and Pernille Rieker (ARENA – Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo & Norwegian Institute of International Affairs), the Irish Presidency is presented with five detailed recommendations:
- “A positive agenda on strategic autonomy”, by Niklas Helwig, Leading Researcher, Finnish Institute of International Affairs & Associate Professor in International Relations, Tampere University;
- “Digital policy priorities for a competitive, resilient, and democratic Europe”, by Seamus Allen, Senior Researcher, Institute of International and European Affairs;
- “The Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034″, by Brigid Laffan, Professor Emeritus, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies; Chancellor, University of Limerick & President, European Policy Centre
- “Mind the gap: When EU enlargement narratives fail to match public concerns”, by Giselle Bosse, Full Professor and Jean Monnet Chair, Maastricht University & Associate Fellow, European Democracy Hub; Miruna Aniculăesei, Junior Researcher, Maastricht University; Imanol Olite Crisol, Junior Researcher, Maastricth University & Tobias Pardoen, Junior Researcher, Maastricht University;
- “EU-UK relations: Much done, more to do”, by Barry Colfer, Director of Research, Institute of International and European Affairs.
“Strategic autonomy should not mean closing Europe off but building the capacity to cooperate from a position of strength. Europe’s future resilience will depend not only on deeper integration within the EU itself, but also on the Union’s ability to organise cooperation across a broader European political space characterised by shared democratic values, interdependence and common strategic interests. Such openness will require clear political commitment both at home and abroad. It will also require more coherent digital and economic policies, credible enlargement narratives, a renewed partnership with the UK, and an MFF that matches the EU’s strategic ambitions with adequate resources. The Irish Presidency is well placed to broker this balance between openness, security, competitiveness and legitimacy.”
