Emer Currie
Question:277. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance for an update on his Department’s priorities for Ireland’s EU Council Presidency. [49579/26]
View answerTuesday, 30 June 2026
Questions (277)
Written answers
My Department has policy competences for most of the work of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN). Ireland’s Presidency Programme was published on 10 June 2026. The ECOFIN chapter of that document sets out the priorities for the Department of Finance. These priorities reflect the core principles of the One Europe, One Market Roadmap from April 2026 with its focus on simplifying and reducing EU administrative burdens, better integration of the Single Market, digitalisation and energy diversification. The Presidency Programme can be accessed through a dedicated Presidency website:
https://ireland2026.eu.
A key priority for my Department will be the Savings and Investments Union, including legislative proposals aimed at building deeper and more integrated capital markets – in particular the Market Integration and Supervision Package. Other priority files include trilogue negotiations on the digital euro, the Securitisation Framework Review and strengthening frameworks for supplementary pension systems and products – which are all priorities in the One Europe, One Market Roadmap – as well as the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
The EU Budget – both the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-34 and EU’s annual budget for 2027 – are also priorities. The Department of Finance – together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the case of the MFF – will act as an honest broker and lead negotiations in a manner that protects the interests of the EU.
Advancing the EU’s simplification agenda will be a significant focus during our Presidency, including advancing the proposed recast of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation and progressing the Tax Simplification Omnibus proposal.
Considering the wider European security context and uncertain global backdrop, the EU’s continued financial support to Ukraine and international economic relations will remain a mainstay of the ECOFIN Council’s work.