Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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62. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department's priorities for the forthcoming Austrian EU Presidency. [25361/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Austrian Presidency takes place at an important time for our Union as we continue to face key challenges. We will work with the Austrian Presidency to address these challenges including in relation to securing economic prosperity and competitiveness, the negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework post 2020, political challenges particularly in relation to the EU as a global actor, trade, security, migration and enlargement. The Irish Government’s priorities are well known. On Brexit, we will work to secure our core objectives: protecting the peace process, including avoiding a hard border and seeking the closest possible relationship between the EU and UK.

The Austrian Presidency will lead on an intensive negotiation process to decide on the shape and scale of next budget for the Union, known as the multiannual financial framework, or MFF. The negotiations promise to be particularly challenging – in addition to the UK’s exit, this will be the first MFF where Ireland will be a net contributor from the outset of the financial period.

While we have made considerable progress in recent years on the Digital Single Market, there is more work to be done. It is vital to deliver on the remaining legislative proposals concerning the Digital Single Market before the end of the current legislative cycle.

We will also support the Austrian Presidency efforts in strengthening the EU as a global actor and in presenting a resolute, coherent European approach on foreign policy priorities.

I would like to wish the Austrian Presidency well in the coming period and look forward to achieving meaningful progress across the range of policy areas.