Brussels, 30/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Ireland's Permanent Representative to the EU, Rory Montgomery, set out some of the priorities on Friday 30 November that his country will pursue when it takes over the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers from 1 January to 30 June 2013. For Ireland's seventh presidency, and with the 40th anniversary of its accession looming, the Irish programme is a very full one, covering economic recovery, stability, and growth and jobs. Emphasising that the priorities of the EU were also those of his country, Montgomery highlighted, in particular, the banking union, foreign trade, data protection and the fisheries and agricultural policies. One of the Presidency's major tasks, however, will be the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, on which the ambassador expects an agreement among the states in February or March, thereafter to be approved by the European Parliament. At a European Policy Centre (EPC) conference, Montgomery said that the banking union was vital for the EU and for the stability of the eurozone. He opined that progress will have been made on supervision rules between now and the start of the Irish Presidency, with his country being responsible for coordinating implementation. He stated that the Presidency would work on the MiFID and on the financial transactions tax, even though Ireland is not part of the enhanced cooperation.
Ireland wants, too, be involved in the growth and jobs agenda, which is to be reviewed at the March European Council. “Youth employment is a priority for us”, Montgomery said, with large numbers of young Irish people leaving their island in search of work elsewhere in Europe or in the rest of the world. Development of the single market - with e-signature and the markets - will also be taken on. “Ireland is a small country which is critically dependent on the single market”, said the permanent representative. Modernisation of data protection rules, which date from 1995 and the very start of the internet, and also cyber-security are at the heart of the priorities of a country where are based the headquarters of, among others, Google and Facebook.
As a country very open to the outside, Ireland also wants to develop foreign trade, in particular with the United States. An informal Council will be devoted to foreign trade in April and the June Council will also discuss this matter. Montgomery hopes that, during the Irish presidency, a mandate will be adopted for opening negotiations on a free-trade agreement with the United States.
He also gave great emphasis to EUROPE 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility, and the creation of a single energy market. He hopes, too, that the review of asylum policy will be concluded under the Irish presidency and that progress will be made in the area of justice, freedom and security; even though Ireland is not taking part in all the measures. Montgomery also spoke of enlargement. Stating that he was awaiting the outcome of the European Council of 13-14 December which will debate this issue, he underlined the need to resume the contacts with Turkey, on hold during the Cypriot presidency which Ankara refused to recognise. The EU, he said, has a crucial relationship with Turkey. He indicated his hope for a positive signal from member states at the European Council. (CG/transl.fl)