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Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris will today (Wednesday September 16th) present the Council of the European Union’s position on the 2027 EU Budget before a plenary sitting of MEPs in Strasbourg.

As Ireland’s Presidency leads the negotiations, the Tánaiste is tasked with securing agreement on the EU’s Budget for next year.

The Budget is critical in terms of supporting key EU priorities such as infrastructure, agriculture, rural development, education and research.

It also ensures the EU has the capacity to respond to emerging crises, strengthen defence readiness and preparedness, manage migration pressures and respond to humanitarian needs.

While in Strasbourg, the Tánaiste will hold a series of bi-lateral engagements with EU Commissioners ahead of hosting an informal gathering of EU Economy and Finance Ministers in Dublin later this week.

The Council has unanimously agreed its position on the 2027 Budget, providing for €191.9 billion in commitments and €202.1 billion in payments.

Speaking ahead of his address to the European Parliament, the Tánaiste said:

“Agreeing the EU Budget for 2027 is an important priority for Ireland’s Presidency.

“This Budget has a very real impact on the lives of people across Europe.

“It supports our farmers and rural communities, our infrastructure, our schools and universities, research and innovation, as well as many of the programmes people rely on.

“But this Budget must also reflect the world Europe finds itself in today.

“We are facing significant geopolitical uncertainty. We need to be able to respond to crises when they emerge, strengthen Europe’s defence readiness and preparedness, manage migration pressures and respond to growing humanitarian needs.

“That means making choices. We need a Budget that delivers on our priorities but also retains the flexibility to respond to challenges we cannot predict.

“We also have a duty to taxpayers across Europe to ensure their money is spent carefully, responsibly and where it can have the greatest impact.

“The Council has unanimously agreed its position. That gives us a strong mandate as we begin the next phase of discussions with the European Parliament.

“Ireland’s role as Presidency is to bring people together and find consensus. I will be working closely with the Parliament, the Commission and Member States over the coming months to deliver a Budget that works for Europe and its citizens.”

During his visit to Strasbourg, the Tánaiste will meet a number of EU Commissioners and MEPs.

The European Parliament is expected to adopt its position on the 2027 Budget in October, ahead of negotiations between the Council and Parliament in November aimed at reaching a final agreement.

The Tánaiste will represent the Council in those negotiations as Ireland works to broker a compromise between the positions of Member States and the European Parliament.

The European Commission presented its draft EU Budget for 2027 on 10 June 2026.

Following examination of the proposal during June and July, the Council unanimously agreed its position in September.

The Council position provides for €191.9 billion in commitment appropriations and €202.1 billion in payment appropriations, excluding appropriations provided for special instruments outside the Multiannual Financial Framework ceilings.

The European Parliament will adopt its amendments in October. If the Council does not agree to those amendments, a 21-day conciliation period will begin with the aim of reaching a compromise between the Council and Parliament.

The 2027 Budget will be the final annual EU Budget under the current Multiannual Financial Framework.