Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
294. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his position on the proposed €450 billion allocation for competitiveness and R and D in the Multiannual Financial Framework to address the EU's competitive gap with the US and China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13822/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for a new European Competitiveness Fund, worth €409 billion, which will invest in strategic technologies, to benefit the entire Single Market, as recommended in the Letta and Draghi Reports. The desired result is a rethinking of how the EU budget funds competitiveness while becoming simpler, policy-driven and delivering more impact.
I welcome the ambition shown in the Commission’s plans and recognise that sustained investment in innovation, industrial capability and impactful research is central to Europe’s future economic strength.
I have particularly welcomed the aim of the European Competitiveness Fund to simplify access to EU financing. Simpler, faster EU funding means researchers and businesses can get support more easily. The objective is to deliver scale, impact, and a seamless investment journey for companies that will strengthen Europe’s long-term productivity growth and competitiveness.
I note that the new funding architecture aims to streamline existing programmes, simplify access to supports, and create a more coherent investment pipeline spanning early-stage research through to commercial deployment. This aligns with Ireland’s long-standing position that EU funding must be efficient, strategically targeted and accessible to both large and small enterprises.
Given the scale of the proposed investment, I have advocated for a need for clear governance arrangements and for maintaining a strong focus on research and innovation, including through established EU frameworks such as Horizon Europe, as part of broader efforts to support EU competitiveness.
While it is recognised that there may be specific, strategic sectors where it makes sense to apply a European lens to how we build our capacity and address critical vulnerabilities, any such issues must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Our primary objective must be to support an open, dynamic and competitive EU economy, and a deeper more integrated Single Market.
Ireland continues to participate actively in the negotiations on the European Competitiveness Fund and is working with like-minded Member States to help shape an outcome that supports sustainable economic growth, strong innovation ecosystems and high-quality employment across the Union. Ireland looks forward to playing a constructive role in progressing the negotiations on the European Competitiveness Fund during our forthcoming Presidency.
