Minister Byrne meets European Commission Executive Vice President Fitto

Minister Byrne meets European Commission Executive Vice President Fitto

• From: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Published on: 23 April 2026
• Last updated on: 23 April 2026

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (23 April) met European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, in Dublin.

The meeting comes as Ireland prepares to take up the Presidency of the Council of the EU in July. Ireland will be tasked with advancing key EU proposals during its EU Presidency, including in respect of the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework - the EU's long-term budget.

Minister Byrne and Executive Vice-President Fitto took the opportunity to discuss Ireland's role in the negotiations, and in particular Minister Byrne's central role in chairing the EU General Affairs Council, which deals with negotiations concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework.

Commenting on the meeting, Minister Byrne said: "Ireland is ready to play a key role during our Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026. We will work with our EU counterparts to negotiate an ambitious EU budget that delivers for households and businesses into the future. The delivery of an ambitious long-term EU budget will advance the interests of Ireland and the Union as a whole."

The Minister continued: "In preparing to take on the chair of the EU General Affairs Council during the Irish EU Presidency, and in the interests of working towards a timely agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework, I have actively engaged fellow EU Member States, the European Parliament, and the European Commission. I greatly valued my meeting with Executive Vice-President Fitto as part of this process."

ENDS

Press Office

23 April 2026