‘The European year of competitiveness’
Improving Europe’s competitiveness is a priority of Ireland’s EU Council Presidency and it will be judged on whether it can oversee agreements on EU Inc, the savings and investments union (SIU), and legislation relating to the European Grids Package, along with its hosting of the International AI Summit.
Competitiveness has become one of the EU’s top priorities with António Costa, President of the European Council, dubbing 2026 ‘the European year of competitiveness’.
During its presidency, the Government aims to further the objectives of the One Europe, One Market Roadmap which was signed in April 2026. It seeks to secure long-term prosperity and deliver a stronger, more integrated EU economy that is more resistant to external shocks.
The roadmap sets five objectives:
- simplifying rules;
- a more integrated single market including the removal of the 10 “most harmful” barriers;
- championing strong trade;
- reducing energy prices and decarbonising; and
- driving the digital and AI transformation.
The Government has set an aim to prioritise the delivery of simplification packages to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. It is also to prioritise a “smarter, more coherent regulatory framework” to accelerate developing critical infrastructure, clean and affordable energy, and affordable housing.
On the delivery of a more integrated single market, the State says it will work to eliminate barriers, tackle regulatory burdens, boost internal market trade, drive digital transformation, and ensure a “level playing field” for businesses operating in the EU. The Government also says it will make it easier for businesses to start up and scale through EU Inc.
EU Inc is a proposal by the European Commission to introduce a single set of corporate rules. It is an optional, digital-by-default European corporate framework. The proposal is aimed at making it easier for businesses to start, operate, and grow to incentivise them to stay in Europe and to attract back businesses that have left. It is expected that an agreement will be reached on the proposal by the end of 2026.
The Government has committed to progressing the savings and investment union (SIU) during the presidency to “help channel Europe’s substantial savings into more productive investments”.
Launched in March 2025, the SIU aims to integrate the EU’s 27 national capital markets to unlock investment. SIU contains a proposal to centralise the supervision of key financial institutions. The European Securities and Markets Authority would have oversight of the SIU.
The EU first proposed this measure in 2015 when it introduced the capital markets union. It has been opposed by member states, including Ireland, over fears it would undermine their control of financial institutions. In an interview with the Financial Times in June 2026, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said the Government would like for an agreement to be reached on the SIU by the end of the Presidency.
“We are prioritising work to enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s economy, safeguard the fundamental values of our Union at home and abroad, and provide for the security of our citizens.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD
The Government also said furthering trade policy agenda “which strengthens our trade relationships with reliable global partners and diversifies our markets” will be central to the Presidency.
It has also set an objective to improving supply chain resilience through the promote-protect-partner principles, the three pillars of the EU Economic Security Strategy. The strategy identifies four risk categories including resilience of supply chains, security of critical infrastructure, technology and security leaks, and economic coercion. It seeks to address these challenges by promoting the single market, protecting economic security, and partnering with other countries and regions.
On the energy transition, the State says it will support efforts to respond to the energy crisis and commits to working to enhance security of supply and the development of “sustainable, affordable, and secure energy systems”.
The Government also commits to concluding the European Grids Package and advancing the forthcoming Energy Security Package. The European Grids Package includes a revision of the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) regulation and a permitting directive. It aims to contribute to modernising and expanding Europe’s energy infrastructure to accelerate electrification and decarbonisation.
Under the Irish Presidency, the Council is to initiate negotiations with the European Parliament when the Parliament adopts its position on the matter. It is expected that final agreement on the legislation will be reached before the end of the Presidency.
On digital and AI, the Government aims to strengthen the EU’s capacities in cloud computing AI, and advance responsible digital governance. Ireland will host the International AI Summit in October 2026. It will be attended by EU and global leaders, heads of government, business figures, and academics. The theme of the summit is ‘Harnessing AI to Revolutionise Europe’s Competitiveness’.
The Government also aims to advance work on digital governance and networks by focussing on investment in subsea telecoms connectivity, and the security and resilience of sub-sea cables.
During the Presidency, the State says it will prioritise a broad range of sectoral work including competitive, sustainable farming and fishing; creating a more “innovation-friendly” regulatory and policy environment; advancing educational mobility through Erasmus+; and promoting investment and reinforcement of resilience in strategic and emerging sectors.
On health, the Government says it will advance legislation on biotechnology and medical devices to “drive the innovation, resilience, and competitiveness” of the sector.
In July 2026, Martin presented the State’s Presidency programme in Strasbourg. He said the Government will seek to build an EU-US trade and investment relationship, and foster a partnership with the UK. The Taoiseach said the Presidency will further EU trade relationships.
In June 2026, Martin said: “We are prioritising work to enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s economy, safeguard the fundamental values of our Union at home and abroad, and provide for the security of our citizens.”
During a Dáil Éireann debate in July 2026, Sinn Féin enterprise spokesperson Rose Conway-Walsh TD said: “Competitiveness cannot simply mean protecting profits and expanding markets. It must also mean protecting workers strengthening strategic sectors, and ensuring that European business operate to the highest ethical standards.”
