Minister Byrne to discuss next EU budget and enlargement at EU General Affairs Council

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, is in Cyprus today (11 May) to meet with his EU counterparts, at the EU General Affairs Council. Discussions will focus on EU budget negotiations, the progression of EU enlargement, and international efforts to tackle hybrid threats and disinformation.

Commenting on the EU’s long-term budget, the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the Minister said: “The global context we operate in requires an EU budget that is sufficiently agile, and adaptable, to respond to the challenges that our citizens, communities and businesses, will encounter in future.

“A key priority for the upcoming Irish EU Presidency will be to broker agreement, among member states, on the EU’s next long-term budget, known as the Multi-Annual Financial Framework. I welcome the opportunity to engage with my EU counterparts today, at the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Cyprus, with a focus on progressing our discussions on the EU budget. I look forward to dealing with negotiations of the EU budget, during the Irish EU Presidency, as incoming chair of the EU General Affairs Council.”

On enlargement, Minister Byrne said: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unify our continent by extending EU membership, to candidate, and potential candidate countries, committed to our values. The EU should not miss this opportunity. Enlargement of the EU is in our collective interests and it will be a key area of focus for the EU General Affairs Council, which I will chair, during the Irish EU Presidency.”

European Ministers will also be joined by the UK Minister for the Constitution and EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, for a discussion on tackling foreign disinformation and interference.

Minister Byrne stated: “We face common challenges across Europe tackling threats against the stability, social cohesion and democratic nature of our countries. It is important that we work together to tackle these threats and I welcome that UK Minister Thomas-Symonds will join us for this important discussion.”

On the margins of the Council meeting, Minister Byrne will also meet with Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, and with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Taras Kachka.