Ireland prepares to take over rotating presidency of EU Council

As Ireland prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July, it faces scrutiny over its close economic ties with several US technology companies. Sixteen of the world's top 20 tech companies have hubs in Ireland, a sector that employs over 100,000 people. Furthermore, Ireland's fiscal watchdog revealed that two unnamed tech firms (believed to be Apple and Microsoft) accounted for nearly 40% of all corporate tax paid in 2024, totalling €11 billion.

Critics argue that such an extreme reliance on Big Tech creates an inherent conflict of interest for Ireland when managing digital policy. The upcoming presidency's agenda features numerous tech-focused proposals, including a sovereign technology strategy, streamlining regulations through the Digital Omnibus, consumer fairness, potential bans on social media for children, and reforms to telecoms rules.

While the presiding country can subtly influence the Council's legislative priorities, it is structurally required to serve as an impartial broker. In this sense, Ireland has established a strong reputation among Brussels diplomats as a highly professional and fair negotiator.

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