Government approach to EU Budget 2021-2027 negotiations on Finance Committee agenda as it meets Minister Paschal Donohoe

Committee Chairman John McGuinness TD said: “The Committee will engage with Minister Donohoe on a number of key issues. Once every seven years, the European Union decides on its future long-term budget – the Multiannual Financial Framework. The next such budget, starting on 1 January 2021, will be the first for the European Union of 27.
The EU budget faces a tough challenge to fund more with less. We will be keen to discuss Ireland’s approach to these crucial negotiations at a time when Brexit will leave a sizeable gap in the EU’s budget, in particular the spending priorities identified by the Government and which areas it sees cuts being made. The proposal on EU 'Own Resources' will also be considered, particularly as this initiative relates to the implementation of CCCTB which a number of Member States, including Ireland, have raised concerns about."

Last month, the European Commission presented its 2018 Country-Specific Recommendations setting out its economic policy guidance for Member States for the next 12 to 18 months. Member states are expected to have regard to these recommendations as part of the budget process. In relation to Ireland, it highlighted the issue of corporation tax being highly concentrated among a few large multinational enterprises which are prone to high volatility, the importance of broadening the tax base and progress in reducing non-performing loans. We will consider the Country-Specific Recommendation in greater detail with the Minister.

We will also discuss progress in relation to banking union as part of the EU initiative to create a safer financial sector for the Single Market.”

Before it meets with Minister Donohoe, the Committee will carry out scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals:

Schedule A: COM(2018)321 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027; COM(2018)322 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027; COM(2018)323 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027; COM(2018)325 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027; COM(2018)326 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027; COM(2018)327 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027; COM(2018)328 on EU Long-Term Budget - Multiannual Financial Framework & Own Resources 2021-2027 ;  
         
Schedule B: COM(2018)259 and COM(2018)261  
         
The meeting will start at 2.30pm in Committee Room 3, Leinster House and proceedings can be followed here.

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here and can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.