Minister Byrne to meet EU Budget Commissioner

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, is in Brussels today (25 June), in advance of tomorrow’s European Council meeting (26 June). Minister Byrne will undertake a series of meetings with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Irish MEPs and business.

Minister Byrne will meet with the European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, Piotr Serafin, to discuss the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.

Speaking ahead of his meeting with the Commissioner, the Minister said: “Ireland is a significant net contributor to the EU budget and I welcome the opportunity to put forward Ireland’s views on the next EU long-term budget particularly.”

Minister Byrne continued: “This will be the first of many engagements with Commissioner Serafin, with whom I will be working very closely as chair of the EU General Affairs Council, when Ireland takes on the EU Presidency next year. From 1 July 2026, Ireland will be tasked with steering EU negotiations among EU member states on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.”

During his visit to Brussels, Minister Byrne will also address the Centre for European Policy Studies for a discussion entitled “Securing the Union: enlargement and the defence of Europe from an Irish Perspective.”

Speaking in advance, Minister Byrne said: “Enlargement of our Union is one of the strongest policy tools at our disposal in the EU as we work to consolidate peace, security and prosperity across our shared continent. I support the EU’s efforts to better equip member states to deal with immediate and future challenges and threats. I look forward to providing an Irish perspective to members of the Centre for European Policy Studies on how we can work together to secure our Union.”

ENDS

Press Office

25 June 2025