Minister Byrne's visit to Brussels, May 2026

Gan ach mí le dul go dtiocfaimid i gceannas ar an Uachtaránacht, tá na hullmhúcháin faoi lán seoil sa Bhruiséil agus sa bhaile in Éirinn. Coinnigh súil amach do thosaíochtaí na hÉireann don Uachtaránacht a fhógrófar i lár mhí an Mheithimh.

Mar chuid de na hullmhúcháin sin chuir an tAire Gnóthaí Eorpacha agus Cosanta Thomas Byrne dhá lá ghnóthacha isteach sa Bhruiséil an tseachtain seo caite, agus é ag freastal ar chruinniú de chuid na Comhairle Gnóthaí Ginearálta agus ag bualadh le hairí, ceannairí, agus meithleacha machnaimh.

Ag an gComhairle Gnóthaí Ginearálta rinne na hAirí plé ar an gComhairle Eorpach a bheidh ar siúl i mí Meithimh, an Creat Airgeadais Ilbhliantúil (MFF) 2028-2034, an caidreamh idir an tAontas Eorpach agus an Ríocht Aontaithe, agus an smacht reachta.

Le cois chruinniú na Comhairle, chas an tAire Byrne le hAire Gnóthaí Eachtracha na hÍsiltíre Tom Berendsen agus le leas-Phríomh-Aire na hÚcráine um Lánpháirtíocht Eorpach agus Eora-Atlantach Taras Kachka. Anuas air sin bhí cruinniú ag an Aire Byrne leis an gCoimisinéir um an mBuiséad agus Comhrac Calaoise agus um an Riarachán Poiblí Piotr Serafin.

Labhair an tAire Byrne ag dhá ócáid arna n-eagrú ag meithleacha machnaimh sa Bhruiséil freisin. Ag Institiúid na Bruiséile um an nGeopholaitíocht (Brussels Institute for Geopolitics), is é an t-iomaíochas i ré na geo-eacnamaíochta a bhí faoi chaibidil ag an Aire. Ag an ócáid a d’eagraigh Bruegel, rinne an tAire plé ar na príomhdhúshláin atá roimh an Aontas agus Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an gComhairle ar na bacáin.

With just a month to go until Ireland takes over the Presidency of the European Council, preparations are in full swing both in Brussels and at home in Ireland.

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne had a busy two days in Brussels last week, attending a meeting of the General Affairs Council and taking part in public engagements with think thanks.
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During the Council meeting, Ministers discussed preparations for the June European Council, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, EU-UK relations and the annual rule of law dialogue.

In the margins of the Council, Minister Byrne met with Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands Tom Berendsen and Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Taras Kachka. Minister Byrne also held a meeting with the European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin

Minister Byrne also had speaking engagements at two Brussels-based think tanks. At the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, the Minister discussed competitiveness in the age of geoeconomics. At Bruegel, the Minister spoke on the key issues facing the EU ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.