European Movement Ireland on a fairer EU, civil society's role and AgoraEU

European Movement Ireland

European Movement Ireland champions a fairer, values-led Europe and aims to spark public engagement, challenge indifference, and stand up for democratic values through inclusive and informed dialogue. We talked to European Movement Ireland to find out more about their mission and what they do.

1. Can you tell us more about European Movement Ireland?

European Movement Ireland has been working since 1954 to strengthen the connection between Ireland and EU. We're a voluntary, not-for-profit, independent, membership-based organisation, and our role is to champion a fairer, values-led EU, while acting as a bridge between what's happening at EU level and what people, communities and civil society organisations here in Ireland actually think and want to say about it.

2. What does European Movement Ireland mean by 'EU Values'?

The EU is grounded in its fundamental values of Equality, Democracy, Rule of Law, Human Rights, Human Dignity, and Freedom. European Movement Ireland’s campaign For The Europe We Value, highlights ordinary people across Ireland who promote these 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.

These are the values the European Union was founded on and has committed to uphold. But the values that make many of us proud to be in the European Union are increasingly at risk.

The far-right is intensifying its attacks on values, while we witness democratic backsliding and threats to civil society in some member states. EU values and fundamental rights are being inconsistently applied and undermined in policymaking.

From the EU’s response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, weakened protections for refugees and migrants, restrictions on the right to peaceful protest in some member states and diluted sustainability and environmental regulation, EU values are under threat.

Upholding these values is also why we take civic space and civil society's role in EU decision-making so seriously, since a Europe that talks about democracy but sidelines the organisations working on the ground isn't living up to its own values.

3. How do you think Ireland benefits from EU membership?

Ireland's EU membership has shaped a large amount of the Ireland we see today. It has supported our regional development, agriculture, fisheries, and communities, as well as enabling Irish nationals to live, study, and work across the other 26 member states. It has also enabled key changes in Ireland, such as gender equality, and peace in the border region following the troubles in Northern Ireland.

The EU also gives Ireland a seat at the table on the issues that affect us. With more interdependency and globally shared issues, the EU is a great channel for Ireland to voice what its people think about these shared issues like climate breakdown, AI regulation, trade, and shared crises.

4. How can people get involved with European Movement Ireland and find out more?

People can become members of European Movement Ireland directly, which gives them access to our newsletters, invitations to events including information seminars, briefings and networking opportunities. It's just 10 Euros per month if you're a student!

We have vast resources on our website, including various policy briefings, short summaries of key issues in our 'Just the Facts' series, a bi-weekly 'Inside Track' on current EU affairs, regular blogs on developments concerning EU civic space, and joint statements alongside Irish organisations calling on legislative change at an EU-level.

Beyond that, we run regular public events, including EU Unfiltered Roundtables across Ireland, cultural engagement events, forums with MEPs and Irish Civil Society, and national consultations like European Mosaic, all of which are open for members of the public and civil society to attend and have their say.

People can also keep up with us through our website and social media, where we share updates on EU developments, upcoming events, and ways to engage. We'd really encourage anyone interested to come along to one of our events first, it's usually the easiest way to see what we do and meet the team.

5. What are some of the key concerns European Movement Ireland have about AgoraEU?

AgoraEU matters a great deal to us, since it's the EU's new programme for culture, media, and civil society, bringing together the current Creative Europe programme and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme into one structure across three strands.

Creative Europe Culture will supports cross-border cultural creation and cooperation. MEDIA+ will support the audiovisual and video games industries alongside free and independent journalism. While CERV+ aims to fund fundamental rights, equality, democratic participation, and the rule of law, including the civic space work many organisations across Ireland and the EU rely on. Concerns from across civil society have been raised during the EU’s next long-term budget negotiations about the AgoraEU programme.

Firstly, the overall budget is still being fought over. The Commission proposed €8.6 billion, the Council's negotiating position has proposed a cut, while the European Parliament is pushing for €10.72 billion, and civil society groups across Europe argue even that higher figure still falls short of what's needed.

Secondly, how that money gets divided between the three strands matters just as much as the total figure, and that division is still being negotiated.

Thirdly, there is an ongoing wider political pressure civil society is already facing, including the European Parliament's own Scrutiny Working Group on NGO funding. For us, AgoraEU isn't just a funding line, it's a test of whether the EU is genuinely willing to back the civil society and civic space it says it values.

Many thanks to Chris Mitchell, Senior Engagement Officer, and Patrick Collins, Events & Engagement Officer, for taking the time to talk to us.

Culture Night Event | Europe Expressed

Creative Europe Desk Ireland is delighted to once again partner with European Movement Ireland on a Culture Night Dublin event on Friday 18 September, 2026.

• Europe Expressed: From Ireland to Europe through the Arts
• Venue: European Movement Ireland's office, 8 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, D02W426.
• Opening times: 5:30pm to 8:30pm

We will showcase European support to the Irish creative industries and highlight the importance of continued funding for the arts, culture and audiovisual sectors in the next EU budget.

Featuring a DJ set by JWY; music by Caimin Gilmore and by Trad Trio; Ar Ais Arís virtual reality experience; and a Útóipe Cheilteach documentary showcase. Read more about the guest artists featured in Europe Expressed.

This event is part of the EUNIC European Culture Trail Passport on Culture Night.