Institute of International and European Affairs

EU Legislative Interests

The IIEA runs events and publishes research on a wide variety of EU policy areas, typically amounting to about 120+ events and circa 30 publications per year. As an example, in 2024 and 2025, we focused our analysis on the following: EU affairs and member state elections; security and defence; EU foreign policy and the multilateral order; developments in the Franco-German relationship; climate and sustainability; climate and agriculture; development policy; disability policy; social policy; digital policy; and energy policy. Key legislative developments at EU level can and do form the basis for public events or research publications. These change regularly depending on events at EU level. The IIEA provides a forum for discussion, and its membership is diverse, with public sector and private sector represented at all events. Furthermore, these events are interactive, and the Institute permits any attendee from the public or private sector to put questions to speakers. In addition, the IIEA from time to time organises private roundtables for private sector or public sector participants (or both), with speakers from European or international organisations. These too are designed to be discussion fora, and again members in attendance may use these events to express views or ask on-topic questions which may relate to their particular sector or organisation.

Communication Activities

In a typical year, the IIEA organises 120+ events on issues of EU policy, and publishes up to 30 research publications on a wide variety of topics. For 2025, its programmes are organized along the following themes: 1. EU Affairs: this is a bespoke series examining themes of citizen engagement, democracy & institutional developments, and promoting better understanding and analysis of the EU and Ireland’s role therein. It aims to bring EU issues to a general audience. It examines political developments in key Member States; the policy priorities of the EU Presidencies; social issues of concern to citizens; and the future of work. 2. Climate and Energy: This programme analyses key issues in the climate and energy policy areas, and aims to meet public interest in this area by sharing ideas and insights on the current climate crisis and the opportunities for clean energy and regenerative growth strategies in Ireland, Europe, and further afield. 3. UK-EU relations: This programme will continue to examine relations between the EU and the UK, particularly with respect to the outworkings of the TCA and specifically the Windsor Framework. As ever, the programme will emphasise research and events that relate to Northern Ireland. 4. Views from the Capitals: Acknowledging the evolving power dynamics in Europe, and building on the Institute’s prior programme of work on France and Germany, this programme will expand the scope to include Europe’s other powers, old and new. 5. Justice and Home Affairs: Focusing on issues of direct concern to citizens and business, this programme will explore issues including: gender equality; hate speech and freedom of speech; migration and asylum; the digitalisation of law enforcement; border management in response to challenges presented by conflict and COVID-19; and Cybersecurity. 6. Geopolitics: Exploring the rise of authoritarianism and illiberal democracies and focusing on attempts to strengthen the multilateral rules-based international order. The programme will explore the policy challenges in international relations with a particular focus on threats to democracy and the EU’s relations with key global and regional players, such as Russia, China, Mercosur, and more. 7. Digital Policy: Focusing on the implementation of the European Commission’s strategy for a “Europe fit for the Digital Age”. 8. Economics and Financial Governance: Addressing the evolving regulatory and economic governance landscape across the EU, Eurozone and internationally. 9. Social Policy: Having explored Disability Policy in 2023 and 2024, the IIEA in 2025 seeks to run a series on the broader topic of EU Social Policy. This series will seek to explore EU Social Policy through the lens of the post-pandemic era, during which the EU was hit by a series of socio-economic shocks. 10. Global Gateways: Drawing on the experiences of the EU-Africa programme in 2023 and 2024, the IIEA will use the Framework of the EU’s Global Gateway to take an expanded look at key European partner regions, including Africa, but also encompassing the Indo-Pacific Region and south-east Europe, focusing in particular on matters of trade, digital, energy policy, and security & defence policy with the continent. 11. Security and Defence: This programme will analyse a Europe’s changing security environment and Ireland’s place within it. This programme will explore what lessons Ireland can learn from other EU member states’ experiences as it implements reforms to its defence forces. In addition, the IIEA organises yearly sponsored events programmes with a wide range of stakeholders including: the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid, the Environmental Protection Agency, ESB, Enterprise Ireland, Google, the European Climate Foundation, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and more.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) - network of European thinktanks

Organisation Members

The IIEA's most recent annual report, 2023, includes an exhaustive list of member organisations and individuals. The report can be downloaded from here: https://www.iiea.com/publications/annual-report-2023 The relevant pages are 44-49 The IIEA's 2024 Annual Report will be available in autumn, and a partial update will be undertaken at that time to reflect this.

Additional Information

The CERV figure above in 2025 is the total amount awarded. Final audited amount may differ.