Brussels, 06/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Irish presidency of the EU's agenda will be a busy one. It will contain no fewer than 50 dossiers and several priorities, such as reform of the 1995 data protection rules and the confiscation and freezing of organised criminal groups' assets. On Thursday, the Irish Minister for justice, Alan Schatter, is also expected to provide a follow-up to the question of Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area (even though the country is not a member), following the Commission's Publication of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism).
The humanitarian situation in Syria and refugees from the war will also constitute a major subject on the Irish Presidency's agenda. Discussions will focus on how to help neighbouring countries. These discussions began in Nicosia last July. Reform of data protection rules, however, remains a key Irish presidency dossier, although it will be one of the most complex subjects it will have to tackle. The minister was careful not to make any commitments about reaching an agreement by July 2013 but promised to make progress on a regulation on the table, as well as on the draft directive on police affairs. It will also be necessary for Ireland to convince its partners that its authority on data protection really will be effective and that it will have the means to defend the interests of its counterparts as best it can. Under the terms of the reform, if a company has its HQ in the country, that country will be responsible for regulating it. Facebook has its HQ in Dublin and is currently the source of many varying controversies. (SP)