Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2017
172. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken estimates of the increase in annual EU contributions that the State may have to make if a decision is made at EU level to ensure there is no net reduction in the EU budget following Brexit and to equally distribute the burden of making up the lost contribution arising from the departure of the UK. [30201/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUntil it formally withdraws from the European Union, the UK remains a full EU Member, with all of its existing rights and obligations including in relation to the EU Budget. Brexit is likely to involve complex discussion on the Multiannual Financial Framework, particularly as the UK is an important net contributor to the EU Budget. Therefore, Brexit will have a significant impact on EU Budget funding and expenditure and may need to be mitigated by either increased contributions from other Member States, reductions in EU funding programmes, or a combination of both.
My Department has undertaken some broad analysis to estimate the potential impact of Brexit on our annual EU budget contributions, including the scenario if a decision is made at EU level to ensure there is no net reduction in the EU budget following Brexit. This analysis will need to be developed in more detail in the coming period, when the parameters of the budget negotiations are better defined. In particular, a key point will be getting agreement amongst the EU27 on a common approach to the future of the EU Budget. However, it would not be helpful to speculate or comment on any amounts at this stage in advance of those negotiations.
