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For six months from 1 July, Ireland holds the presidency of the EU, a role that brings both influence and responsibility. The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy looks at the questions Europe needs to confront, and what Ireland can bring to the table.
Is Curiosity the Key to European Cooperation?
Dr Farbod Akhlaghi, Department of Philosophy, explores what it really takes for European nations to work together. Drawing on philosophy, he argues that genuine cooperation depends on a kind of curiosity that goes deeper than simply wanting to know.
Learn moreDo you know who's lobbying the EU?
Professor Raj Chari, Department of Political Science, pulls back the curtain on one of Brussels' least visible forces. From corporate giants to NGOs, lobbying shapes EU policy long before it reaches a vote, and Ireland's presidency offers a rare chance to ask how transparent that process really is.
Learn moreWhat is the future of trade for the EU?
Professor Marvin Suesse, Department of Economics, looks at the forces reshaping Europe's trading relationships, from shifting alliances to new economic pressures. As Ireland takes the chair, trade policy is one of the biggest tests of what the EU can still agree on.
Learn moreCan Ireland Keep AI Under Control?
Professor Taha Yasseri, Department of Sociology, makes the case for why Ireland is uniquely positioned to steer Europe's approach to AI regulation. With the technology evolving faster than the law, this is one of the defining questions of the presidency.
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