With Europe facing a volatile geopolitical backdrop and mounting pressure on public finances, Tánaiste Simon Harris will today take the lead in Brussels in a push to secure agreement on the EU’s budget for 2027 — a package with funding for farmers, businesses, infrastructure and education high on the agenda.
The Tánaiste is set to chair the ECOFIN Budget Council before stepping into negotiations with the European Parliament, representing EU Member States in talks aimed at finalising how EU funding will be allocated next year.
Those discussions unfold at a pivotal moment for the bloc, as uncertainty beyond Europe’s borders grows and demands on EU spending continue to rise.
The 2027 budget carries added significance because it will be the last annual budget operating under the EU’s current seven-year funding framework.
Ahead of the negotiations, the Tánaiste said he believed an agreement was within reach that would support citizens and businesses across Europe, while also delivering value for money for taxpayers.
He is also expected to argue for maintaining enough financial headroom in the budget to allow the EU to respond quickly to unforeseen crises and new challenges that could emerge in 2027.
The Tanaiste said: “I will work with members of the European Parliament to reach an agreement for a budget that meets the EU’s needs while ensuring that our taxpayers’ money is spent carefully and effectively.
“Our approach will also ensure that there is sufficient room in the budget for the EU to respond to unexpected challenges which may arise in 2027, providing a critical buffer in the current geopolitical environment.”
