Byrne confident of EU budget deal under Irish presidency

Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne has said he is “absolutely confident” that agreement can be reached on the next long-term EU budget before Ireland’s Presidency of the EU concludes at the end of the year.

European Affairs Ministers are meeting in Dublin today and tomorrow as talks on the next long-term EU budget reach a critical stage.

One of the key aim’s of Ireland’s EU Presidency is to agree the budget, known as the multiannual financial framework (MFF), before the end of the year.

However, several countries, including Germany, want to rein in spending.

Speaking as he arrived at Dublin Castle for the meeting of the General Affairs Council, Mr Byrne stressed the urgency of the negotiations.

“I’m absolutely confident we can achieve this by the end of the year because I think we need to, and the reason we need to is because we need to have the funds in place by the 1 January 2028.

“And if we don’t conclude the negotiations this year, we won’t have time to do all the legislation that goes with the figures that we would agree.”

He said farmers, rural communities, industry and European citizens will be waiting for funds.

“That’s why it’s absolutely important that we see today where the compromises can be reached, where red lines are really being drawn, and how we can actually all, as European citizens, be winners out of this process.”

Ministers are also being joined today by the EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin, as well as some MEPs and the EU budget co-rapporteurs.

Mr Serafin struck an optimistic note, saying it was positive that member states were engaging and that he could feel a lot of excitement.

“I can see, and I can feel, a lot of excitement also, and for me it’s a good sign,” he said.

“It’s a good sign that the member states have started to engage, and without serious engagement, even the best presidency, and the Irish presidency is one of the best, will not be able to solve it.

“But I’m optimistic. So, if you are looking for signs of optimism, this is the level of emotions – sometimes negative, I have to admit – that accompany this meeting because they demonstrate we are in business.”

The EU Budget will be agreed at by leaders of the member states but some of the critical work on negotiations will be done in Dublin at the General Affairs Council.

Mr Byrne said he hoped they would do as much work as possible by early October and then deliver a second negotiating document to the leaders and the President of the European Council Antonio Costa.