239. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s position on the current EU allocation under the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the AgoraEU programme considering the key role that civil society, independent journalism and culture play in safeguarding a Europe where democracy can thrive; and whether Ireland will be seeking an increase in this allocation during the MFF negotiation process. [47893/26]

In 2025, the EU Commission proposed a significant restructuring, simplification and streamlining of funding programmes within the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the entire EU budget for the period 2028-34.

This included a Commission proposal to merge two existing programmes Creative Europe and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) into one single instrument called AgoraEU. Though merged into one programme, AgoraEU comprises three distinct funding strands Culture, Media+, and CERV+.

Ireland has strongly and consistently welcomed the AgoraEU proposal, and supported the Partial General Approach reached by the Cyprus Presidency at the EYCS Council on 12 May 2026.

The Citizens Equality Rights and Values (CERV)+ strand will be important to promote equality, gender equality, and gender mainstreaming, and combat multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination and gender based violence. CERV has been an important and significant source of support for civil society organisations working to uphold equality, fundamental rights and EU values across the Union. CERV+ will continue to fund civil society initiatives to promote and defend equality, EU values, civic engagement and democracy.

Given the number of sectoral areas proposed to be financed under the AgoraEU programme, it will be important that the proposed budget is sufficient to meet the need of these vital sectors. It will also be important to ensure that the particular supports for sectoral areas, including civil society and fundamental rights initiatives, are not diluted under within the new expanded programme.

I would note that Ireland’s positions on the wider MFF and participation in the negotiation processes for this are being coordinated by the Minister of Finance. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is coordinating closely with the Department of Finance, including through the inter-Departmental coordination group on the MFF, and will continue to promote the importance of the AgoraEU programme within this process.

Ultimately, the MFF negotiating positions and any requests for changes to review proposed MFF funding allocations to individual programmes are a matter for the Department of Finance.