Find out more about Ireland’s political system, economy and trade figures, its representation in the different EU institutions, and EU funding it receives.

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are party to the EU's founding treaties, and thereby subject to the privileges and obligations of membership. They have agreed by the treaties to share their own sovereignty through the institutions of the European Union in certain aspects of government.

Ireland is part of the EU (dark blue & purple) and Eurozone (dark blue). Ireland adopted the euro currency in 2002 along with eleven other EU member states. [69] As of January 2023 there are 20 EU member states using the euro currency with Croatia the most recent member to join on 1 January 2023. [112]

Ireland plays a central role in Europe. We help to shape the EU through our input into economic and social policies. We use our EU membership to make a valuable contribution to world affairs.

The EU is Ireland’s most important trading bloc, with 40% of exports going to fellow Member States. Being part of the EU gives Ireland a powerful global voice. Irish views and interests are reflected in the policies of the EU towards the rest of the world.

The Republic of Ireland is a member state of the European Union while the United Kingdom is a former member state, having both acceded to its precursor entity, the European Economic Community (EEC), in 1973 but the UK left the European Union in 2020 after a referendum on EU membership was held in 2016 which resulted in 51.9% of UK voters ...

Ireland's membership of the European Union has greatly facilitated its transformation from an antiquated, agriculturally dependent economy to one largely driven by hi-tech industry and global exports.

Ireland’s membership of the European Union has had profound significance for all areas of Government. In many areas, national and EU policymaking are intertwined. EU membership has been central to the transformation of Ireland’s economy and society over the past forty years.

Ireland has held the Presidency on six previous occasions, including during pivotal moments in the EU’s history which still resonate today: 1975: Hosting the first European Council meeting in Dublin in March, and the establishment of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), designed to reduce the development gap between different ...

Being an EU member is directly linked to Ireland’s success in attracting foreign direct investment. Having transformed its economy in the years since joining the EU, Ireland developed into one of the region’s top locations for innovation.