Minister’s Brief

At EU level, the Governance section is responsible for managing the Department’s
engagement on the Future of Economic and Monetary Union file. This work follows on from
the ‘Five Presidents’ Report’ (of the Commission, ECB, Eurogroup, Parliament and Euro Area
Summit) presented to the June 2015 European Council. This identified two stages in further
economic, fiscal and financial integration of the Euro Area: short-term proposals which focus
on reforms within the existing Treaties until 2017, and more far-reaching reforms in the
medium term which may necessitate Treaty amendment.
EU Strategy Committee
The EU Strategy Committee is an inter-divisional sub-Committee of the Executive Board. It
meets every two months and provides a forum for exchanging information and holding
substantive discussions on EU policy matters. A focus of the Committee has been to identify
on an annual basis key EU policy priorities for the Department and how to enhance the
Minister’s engagement on EU policy at an earlier stage of formulation.
EU Budget
The work of the EU Budget Section is to ensure the outcome of the negotiations reflects Irish
policy priorities, whilst simultaneously protecting and advancing our national interests.
The annual (Ecofin) Budget Council generally takes place in November, with a view to securing
agreement on the annual budgetary package. Ireland is usually represented at Minister of
State level.
Ireland and the EU Budget
Ireland has been a significant net beneficiary from the EU Budget since accession in 1973.
However, 2014 represented the first time Ireland was a (small) net contributor. In 2014, the
last year for which complete data is available, Ireland contributed c. €1,686 million towards
the financing of the EU budget and received €1,518 million. The vast majority of Irish receipts
(c. €1,220 million in 2014) are direct payments to Irish farmers. The EU budget section has
responsibility for executing Ireland’s bi-monthly national EU Budget contributions in an
efficient and timely manner. In 2015 these payments amounted to c. €1,952 million.
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) Mid-Term Review
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) agreed by unanimity lays down the maximum
annual amounts which the EU may spend in different political fields. The current MFF covers
seven years: from 2014 to 2020. A mid-term review of the MFF by the Commission is
scheduled for the end of 2016. The Commission will review the working of the MFF and take
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