By World BEYOND War Europe Network, June 5, 2026

The World BEYOND War Europe Networkhas written the following open letter to two relevant Irish Ministries regarding their EU Council Presidency, starting this July.

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Open Letter to Minister of State Thomas Byrne TD and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee TD

Dear Minister Byrne, Minister McEntee,

World BEYOND War is a global nonviolent movement working to abolish the institution of war and build a just and sustainable peace. Our Ireland chapter, Ireland for a World BEYOND War, has been involved for years in ensuring a culture of peace is promoted in the country, and that Ireland is not made complicit in war crimes. At the European level, we have formed a network of chapters and affiliates called World BEYOND War Europe Network.

We are writing ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union starting in July 2026, and ahead of the publication of Ireland’s Presidency Policy Programme in June. We want to recognise the government’s effort towards inclusive preparation, including the public consultation that drew 484 submissions from civil society, and we write in that same spirit.

We believe Ireland’s presidency is a fundamental and timely opportunity. Article 29 of the Irish Constitution affirms the country’s dedication to peace and friendly settlement of international disputes. These are not just values that run deeply within Irish society, they are constitutional commitments that the government must uphold. Article 29 also lays the basis of Ireland’s neutrality and is representative of the history of Ireland as a country striving for de-colonisation and freedom of all people.

Ireland’s Council of the EU Presidency offers an opportunity to urgently address the current EU stand on “defense and security” policy. Through ReArm Europe, member states are pressured into meeting increasingly high military spending benchmarks, while they face similar issues to those you are confronted with in Ireland: record breaking numbers of homeless people, weakened healthcare systems, and greenhouse emission targets far from being reached.

Increased military spending will undoubtedly adversely impact these unacceptable situations. More fundamentally, increased militarisation across Europe contradicts Article 29 of the Irish Constitution, Ireland’s tradition of neutrality, and the EU’s own founding purpose as a peace project under Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Finally, reducing transparency and oversight  of the overpowerful arms industry is also in direct conflict with Article 3.

We therefore urge the Irish Government to make use of its time during the Presidency to take the following steps:

1. Resist mandatory military spending benchmarks as an increasingly normalised condition for EU member states, and resist any weakening of EU arms export control frameworks under the pretext of ‘simplification’ and ‘efficiency’.
2. Recommit the European Union to full compliance with international law and to its own founding values as a peace project, while promoting a narrative of mutual regard and respect, trust and goodwill towards other international actors.
3. Place peace, conflict prevention and mediation on the agenda of the European Political Community summit, which will be hosted in Ireland in November 2026.
4. Take the opportunity of the Presidency to reinstate diplomacy as the first and rapid response of the EU to all conflicts now and in the future, by convening dedicated space within the Foreign Affairs Council for diplomatic resolutions of current conflicts.
5. Use Ireland’s platform during the Presidency to actively promote the multitude of alternatives to military intervention, such as rapid civilian response mechanisms, unarmed civilian protection, training in civil resistance, and non-violent conflict resolution.
6. Ensure that civil society members advocating for demilitarisation and peaceful conflict resolutions are meaningfully included in the Presidency programme, especially in the youth engagement programme.
7. As mandatory military service re-enter public discourse across Europe, make use of Ireland’s platform during the Presidency to give visibility to conscientious objection as a right protected by the United Nations human rights system, recognised as an exercise of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion by Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
8. Use Ireland’s role in the Foreign Affairs Council to advocate for the rights of militarily neutral Member States to maintain their status.

We recognise the complex geopolitical moment in which we live, and we do not underestimate the constraint the Government faces, but we believe that these circumstances make your contribution and work more important than ever. Ireland’s unique historical and constitutional position gives it the authority and credibility to raise these questions at the EU and international level. Your work would not only serve the interests of Irish citizens but of all the citizens of Europe as they strive for peaceful coexistence.

Your sincerely,

World BEYOND War Europe Network (Ireland for a World BEYOND War, Berlin for a World BEYOND War, International Peacefactory Wanfried, Romania for a World BEYOND War, Our House, Stop Fuelling War, Cessez d’alimenter la guerre, Another Development Foundation, Folk mot DCA, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement)

The post World BEYOND War Asks Ireland to Put Peace On The EU Council Agenda appeared first on World BEYOND War.

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