merrion street

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., represents Ireland today at the General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Together with her European colleagues, she will engage in a policy debate on the EU budget (the multi-annual financial framework).

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Minister said:

I’m looking forward to engaging with our EU partners in the General Affairs Council on these significant issues. The next Strategic Agenda and Multi-annual Financial Framework will be important tools in helping our Union to address the concerns of our citizens and deliver real benefits in their lives.

The General Affairs Council will also prepare for this month’s European Council.  The June European Council will adopt the 2019-2024 Strategic Agenda for the Union and consider the high-level appointments for the next institutional cycle; including:

- The next President of the European Council; 

- Proposing the President of the European Commission; 

- The next High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; 

- The next body of EU Commissioners and;

- The board of the ECB and its next President. 

Leaders will also assess the progress made in the negotiations for the EU budget and discuss climate change ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit in September. Lastly, Ministers will discuss the Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process concerning Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo.