Tag: Irish EU Presidency

EU ministers are pressing to conclude negotiations on the EU’s 2014-2020 budget before the term of the Irish presidency ends in June.

With the EU agreeing a near freeze in overseas development aid, persuading citizens to back further national contributions will be a tricky but necessary task, says Irish Trade and Development Minister Joe Costello.

Following the implant scandal in which women were given industrial rather than medical-grade silicon, the EU has moved to tighten up regulation on medical devices. But industry says the new proposal “does not contribute to patient safety” and will affect the EU’s speed to market and cripple innovation.

Reacting to the furore over the discovery of horse meat in Irish beef patties, MEPs on Wednesday (23 January) called for stronger EU labelling laws as Ireland's agriculture minister defended the safety of his country’s meat products.

The future of Europe’s agriculture policy shouldn’t be held hostage by the EU’s budget impasse, Ireland’s agricultural minister said in calling for negotiations to move forward even if final figures on spending are unknown until spring.

The upcoming Irish presidency of the EU Council of Ministers will be one of realism and optimism, Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore told reporters during a hand-over event in Brussels. Ireland, he said, hoped to become the first country to emerge from the EU/IMF bailout programme.

The priorities of the Dutch presidency are further EU enlargements, justice and home affairs, giving the EU a wider role in external relations, the sustainable growth of the European economy and the financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013.

Although nearing the end of its mandate, Parliament will continue to defend its interests in IGC, MEPs have said. Commissioner Vitorino has warned against adding new confusing criteria in the double majority voting.

At a dinner meeting with EU leaders on 25 March, the Irish Presidency will seek confirmation "that there is a shared political will to move to an early overall agreement".

The Parliament's annual debate on JHA is of particular importance this year due to the May 2004 deadline for the implementation of the Amsterdam Treaty provisions on the creation of the so-called "Area of Freedom, Security and Justice".

In the transport sector, the Irish Presidency will focus on measures aimed at stimulating growth and 'modal shift' towards sustainable transport in an enlarged Union.

The May 2004 deadline set by the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Tampere Council for the adoption of a range of measures puts the Irish Presidency under pressure to deliver results during its term in office.

The Irish presidency is set to strengthen the European Research Area, boost basic research and work towards achieving the 3 per cent objective.

During its first days at the helm of the European Union, the new Irish Presidency has made it clear that it rejects any calls for a two-speed Europe.

After the failure of the IGC, the Irish Presidency is set to focus on the EU's economic growth and the successful completion of the enlargement process.

In a telephone call to the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi expressed his regret for having offended the MEPs with a Nazi slur.

On 1 July, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) has released its verdict on the results of the Greek Presidency in the environmental field based on its ten green tests.

Turkey is not ready to join the EU because it is not a democracy, according to Italian Minister for European Affairs Rocco Buttiglione.

The President of the European Convention, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, is expected to propose an end to the national veto on tax policy to end tax competition.

The EU leaders, gathering for a two-day summit in Athens, are to discuss proposals by the President of the European Convention, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, on the Union's permanent presidency and foreign policy. Mr Giscard's proposals are expected to be shot down by the Union's smaller Member States and future members who fear the erosion of their influence on EU policy-making.

Delegates to the Convention's plenary session on 20 January overwhelmingly rejected the recent Franco-German plan to install two full-time presidents to lead the European Union.

Through their joint proposal unveiled on 14 January, France and Germany made an attempt to define the new Brussels power structure for the enlargement period and after. The plan has received a mixed reception.