European Commission Representation in Ireland

05/06/2026

🇪🇺 The European Commission has published the 2026 European Semester Spring Package, with recommendations to strengthen competitiveness, economic resilience and social cohesion across the EU.

🇮🇪 For Ireland, the priorities include:
🏠 Making housing affordable and boosting construction;
💼 Reducing over-reliance on multinational tax revenues;
🎓 Tackling skills shortages and investing in reskilling;
⚡ Reducing energy import dependency and expanding renewables;
🌿 Accelerating climate action, especially in agriculture;
💶 Improving long-term fiscal sustainability.

Read the full report: link.europa.eu/CgKcPT

03/06/2026

🌱 One month before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, 'Shared Roots, Common Shade' invited visitors at Bord Bia Bloom to reflect on what becomes possible when countries work together.

Take a look back at a memorable week!

02/06/2026

🇪🇺 Next month, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

🌿 At Bloom, we started a conversation with ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade,’ a garden inspired by a simple idea: that some of the biggest things we achieve happen when we work together.

That’s also the thinking behind Europe: The Power of Together.

Across the EU, countries pool resources through Europe’s Budget (or the Multiannual Financial Framework) and invest in shared priorities.

⚡️ In Ireland, that can be seen everywhere - from support for farmers and researchers to restoring peatlands, strengthening communities, regenerating town centres and building the infrastructure behind our energy transition.

But The Power of Together is about more than funding alone. It’s about the people, places, projects and partnerships that show what European cooperation looks like in practice!

⭐️ Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing those stories from across Ireland as we mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Bloom was just the beginning. 🇪🇺

01/06/2026

Peace, cleaner rivers, more nature, safety and happiness for all. There are just some of the hopes shared by children across Ireland on the wishing tree at ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade.’

During her visit to the garden, President Catherine Connolly took time to read the messages, written on seeded paper and displayed alongside the garden’s 27 native trees.

When Bloom comes to a close, the wishes will be planted alongside the garden, where they’ll blossom into wildflowers for future visitors to enjoy.

With Ireland set to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in just one month’s time, their hopes for the future feel particularly timely. 🇪🇺🌿

More to come .

29/05/2026

A great pleasure to welcome Taoiseach Micheál Martin to “Shared Roots, Common Shade” Garden 🇪🇺🌳🤝

28/05/2026

We are delighted to welcome Uachtarán na hÉireann / President of Ireland Catherine Connolly to our European Union garden ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade’ 🇮🇪🇪🇺

Messages left by schools kids and the President on the wishing tree reflect a shared vision for Ireland and Europe: peace, sustainability and a future rooted in cooperation.

Bord Bia Bloom

28/05/2026

🥇✨EU's 'Shared Roots, Common Shade' garden wins two gold medals at Bord Bia Bloom 2026 👏 🇪🇺

The garden is designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann, it represents the strength of working together to build our common future in Europe 🤝

We are expecting more than 100k visitors this week-end! If you are one of them - let us know in the comments 👇

28/05/2026

Next 5 days - find us at Bord Bia Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Garden 17 🌸

Bloom festival will be held in the spacious Phoenix Park from Thursday, the 28th of May to Monday, June 1st.

27/05/2026

🌿 Welcome to 'Shared Roots, Common Shade' - the European Commission’s Bord Bia Bloom 2026 garden, designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann.

Bringing together 27 trees representing the 27 EU Member States, the garden explores how cooperation, sustainability and long-term investment help shape our shared future.

As part of our Europe: The Power of Together campaign, the space invites visitors to slow down, walk through the woodland pathway and reflect on the future of Ireland and Europe, ahead of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of EU.

Stop by and say hello at Bord Bia Bloom this weekend 👋

Video by Jack Caffrey of the Pimlico Project.

25/05/2026

"The European Union in 12 Objects" was officially launched in print this weekend at the International Literature Festival Dublin

Drawing on former Ambassador Bobby McDonagh’s deep experience as an Irish diplomat and European official, the publication uses 12 familiar household objects - from a mirror to a drawer - to explain the rich complexity of the European Union in accessible and engaging language.

A timely contribution as Ireland prepares for its upcoming EU Presidency and a book that deserves the widest possible audience.

IIEA Dublin City Council