Europe: Government, Public Sector

As EU leaders advance Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations for the 2028-2034 budget period, Ireland prepares to assume the Council Presidency amid complex debates over budget size, own resources, and competing priorities across defence, energy security, and competitiveness. The negotiations present significant implications for corporate tax policy, energy markets, and regulatory frameworks as Member States navigate fiscal constraints against geopolitical pressures.

The Dutch government has prohibited a US IT company from acquiring Solvinity, the operator behind DigiD, the Netherlands' digital identity verification system. This decision raises important questions about how national security concerns intersect with foreign investment in critical telecommunications infrastructure and what legal mechanisms exist to protect public interests in the digital age.

Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has released its first annual report on the country's mandatory FDI screening regime, revealing 102 notifications in 2025 with a remarkably low intervention...