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Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Strength with unity – Ní neart go cur le chéile
Ireland starts the Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Published: July 1, 2026
Ireland has assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second half of 2026, marking the start of a new 18-month Trio alongside Lithuania and Greece. Guided by the motto “Strength with unity” (Ní neart go cur le chéile), the Presidency intends to focus on reinforcing Europe’s competitiveness, safeguarding its democratic values and strengthening its security in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
Three pillars
Ireland’s Presidency is built around three priorities: competitiveness, values and security. The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s economy through innovation and investment, uphold the EU’s democratic principles and social cohesion and enhance resilience in response to geopolitical, economic and security challenges.
Health Innovation
Ireland has made clear that health will be approached as a driver of Europe’s competitiveness rather than as a standalone policy area. The Presidency’s flagship health priorities include advancing negotiations on the European Biotech Act, progressing the revision of the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulations and supporting the implementation of the European Health Data Space.
EANM’s perspective
For EANM, these developments are particularly important as they will shape the regulatory and data landscape in which nuclear medicine operates. The direction taken on the Biotech Act, MDR/IVDR revision and the European Health Data Space will influence how efficiently innovative technologies move from research into clinical practice, how evidence is generated through clinical trials and how health data can be accessed and shared across borders. Taken together, these initiatives will have a direct bearing on the development, authorisation and uptake of radiopharmaceuticals, as well as on the broader conditions for innovation in imaging and targeted therapies across Europe.
EANM remains committed to working with the Irish Presidency and EU stakeholders as these legislative files advance, to ensure appropriate recognition of nuclear medicine within the broader framework.