Minister: Ireland to 'act as an honest broker' during presidency
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Thomas Byrne has said that during Ireland's presidency of the European Commission the country will "in effect" be in charge of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations.
Speaking in the Dáil today (July 10), Minister Byrne said that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the biggest part of the budget, "in terms of what we receive", and that it is important that Ireland protects that.
The Minister of State was asked about Ireland's presidency by Fianna Fáil TD, John Lahart today.
Deputy Lahart said: "Our political grouping at EU level, Renew Europe, has some positive ideas. It proposed reinforced provisions to promote democratic resilience.
"It is also being proposed by our group that the MFF must position the EU as the world's leading provider of development and climate aid. The Minister of State mentioned that. Is this something he will support?" Deputy Lahart asked.
Minister of State Byrne said that he met with the EU Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, Piotr Serafin, in Brussels on June 25.
He said: "The meeting was an important opportunity to set out Ireland’s preliminary views on the post-2027 MFF in advance of the proposal of the commission being published next Wednesday (July 16).
"During this meeting, I called on the commissioner to ensure a robustly funded and separate, strong and ring-fenced Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. "
"As a thriving sector of our economy, I stressed the importance of CAP in sustaining jobs and rural communities and strengthening food security across Europe," Minister of State Byrne added.
According to the minister, Ireland will have to "act as an honest broker" during its EU presidency next year (2026).
He said: "It is important that between now and then we get our spoke out, so to speak. That is why I met Commissioner Serafin at a very early point, and immediately after that meeting I met all of our MEPs, all of whom were invited to be briefed on our position.
"I am more than happy to do that with the committees on foreign affairs, EU affairs and agriculture. Individual ministers will also do that."
"It is also important for Oireachtas committees is to engage with their counterparts in other parliaments. The CAP is the biggest part of the budget in terms of what we receive. It is important that we protect that," Minister of State Byrne added.
