It is the oldest Irish organisation dealing with the EU, pre-dating Ireland's membership of the EEC in 1973 by almost twenty years.

On 11 January 1954, one hundred people met in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin and founded the Irish Council of the European Movement.

Signing the Articles of Association that founded the European Movement were seven pioneers of Ireland's future in Europe.

Former Taoisigh Garret Fitzgerald and Jack Lynch, and former President Mary Robinson backed the initiative and after a referendum was held on the Third Amendment of the Irish Constitution which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in May 1972 Ireland joined the European Communities as a full member state on 1 January 1973.

It seeks to encourage and facilitate the active participation of citizens and civil society organisations in the European Union as it develops.