Ireland Says It Is Well-Positioned to Lead EU Budget Talks During Council Presidency
Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne discusses his country's rotating EU presidency priorities, including a proposed social media ban for children, in an interview with France 24.
Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, said his country is "ideally placed" to chair upcoming European Union budget negotiations as Ireland holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, according to an interview broadcast on France 24's "Talking Europe" program.
Byrne made the comments while in Strasbourg for the 2026 State of the Union address and subsequent debate featuring European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, France 24 reported.
According to the broadcaster, Ireland is managing a full agenda during its presidency term, with Byrne discussing several key points raised in von der Leyen's address.
Among the priorities Byrne highlighted was a proposed ban on social media access for children, an initiative that Ireland intends to advance during its time holding the EU presidency, France 24 said.
The interview also touched on Ireland's role in upcoming discussions over the EU budget, though specific details of the negotiation timeline or budget figures were not disclosed in the excerpt provided by France 24.
The rotating presidency of the Council of the EU shifts among member states every six months, with the holder responsible for chairing meetings, setting agendas, and helping broker compromises among member states on various policy files, including the bloc's multi-year budget.
Further details of the interview, including Byrne's specific proposals for advancing the social media restrictions for children or the broader agenda for Ireland's presidency, were not fully outlined in the source material.
Sources
- We’re ideally placed to chair EU budget negotiations, says Irish Minister of State — France 24 — English
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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