Strasbourg, 16/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 16 January, the Irish Prime Minister, or Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, presented his country's priorities for its six months holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ireland's seventh presidency, with the emphasis on stability, growth and employment, in a programme supported by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. In his highly pro-Community, pro-European and citizen-oriented speech, the Taoiseach stressed that, on behalf of the people, “we are working for growth, employment and stability to rebuild confidence (…). The Irish Presidency will be the Presidency of the European family, Ireland will put all of its efforts into tackling European problems”. Seán Kelly (EPP, Ireland) said that Ireland is on the road to recovery, adding that there are many challenges to be faced over the next six months (reforms of the common agriculture and fisheries policies, the financial framework 2014-2020). The leader of the GUE group, Gabi Zimmer, however, criticised a programme which does not focus enough on the fight against poverty and social and economic exclusion, and with no sustainable strategy.
Kenny laid emphasis on the importance of employment. “The crisis is having a profound impact on the citizen, the worst scourge of the crisis is unemployment”, he stressed, with 26 million Europeans currently out of work, many of them young people. He stressed the importance of the youth package, because “we cannot allow a generation to be born which believes that the political leaders have failed to bring them hope”.
He argued that the development of European competitiveness and trade can also feed into employment. The Taoiseach therefore hopes to develop the full potential of the single market, with the directive on professional qualifications, SMEs and the mobility of pensions, the single digital market, with e-signature, broadband and data protection. Stressing that Ireland's priorities are also his own, the leader of the EPP Group, Joseph Daul, highlighted the need to continue to focus on industry, rather than just on services, and the importance of “ protecting the jobs that we have”. Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany) said that he was disappointed that industrial policy does not feature among the priorities of the Irish Presidency.
Kenny also hopes to make progress at economic level, with an agreement on the Two Pack and greater democratic control of the European semester. Ireland, which is directly involved in this, also wishes to make progress on banking union, with the single supervision mechanism, the CRD4, and, of course, separation between sovereign debt and banks. The leader of the ADLE Group, Guy Verhofstadt, called on Dublin to take inspiration from its own national experience at European level. “What is good for Ireland can be good for Europe”, he argued. He expressed his hopes that the Taoiseach will fight the “EU's complacency”, reproaching many European leaders for not being sufficiently active to come out of crisis and make structural reforms.
S&D Group leader, Hannes Swoboda, stressed the importance of Schengen, which was not referred to by the prime minister in his introduction, adding that, although Ireland is not a member of it, its Presidency must work on it. “We will not accept any unjust restrictions on the freedom of movement, we want to develop Schengen. This is why we need help”, he stated, also stressing the Dublin Convention and migrants' rights. Jean-Pierre Audy (EPP, France) asked the Taoiseach whether he was planning to move Ireland forward on this point, “by bringing the country into the Schengen zone”.
An outward-looking Presidency. Nor did the Taoiseach neglect the external dimension. Reinforcing links with the strategic partners, by means of developing free-trade agreements, in particular with the United States, is a priority of the Presidency. The leader of the ECR Group, Martin Callanan, voiced his hopes that a collaboration between the Irish Presidency of the EU and the British Presidency of the G8 could lead to progress on an agreement with the United States. Stressing that the commitment of the Irish people to human rights and international development can set an “example to the EU”, the Taoiseach hopes to use the Presidency to fight hunger throughout the world and to work with the high representative to strengthen the EU's role in regions hit by crises, specifically mentioning Syria, Iran, Mali and Somalia. He also hopes to move the enlargement process forward.
A multi-annual financial framework to be concluded. One of the challenges of the Presidency will be the multi-annual financial framework (MAFF). “We need a stable basis in order to meet the challenges, we need an adequate multi-annual financial framework”, stressed the Taoiseach, adding that he will “spare no efforts in reaching an agreement at the forthcoming summit”, then in his discussions with the Parliament. “It is in everybody's interests that we reach an agreement (…). We have to start as soon as possible, we owe this to the citizens. A fair but imperfect agreement is better than no agreement at all”, he warned. However, the joint leader of the Greens/EFA Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, lamented the “conservatism” of the proposed MAFF. “What is on the table, proposed by the Council, is not credible and will not create jobs (…). What is focused on the future, youth, innovation, will go by the board”, he said, calling for own resources for the EU, including the financial transactions tax, in which Ireland does not plan to participate. Göran Färm (S&D, Sweden) expressed the view that the logic defended in certain EU countries that the EU must cut its budget until 2020 “does not hold water”. The EP has a right of veto over the budget 2014-2020. “We did not need a substantial increase, but we do need a budget which is solid enough to take account of the priorities (growth, jobs, young people and infrastructure)”, Färm argued. He also spoke in favour of a budget which is flexible enough to respond to needs and of stable own resources for the EU budget. Gay Mitchell (EPP, Ireland) said that the budget earmarked for development aid should be defended within the multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020.
Action regarding the British neighbour. Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ADLE, Germany) wondered why David Cameron is hiding in the Netherlands (to give his speech on EU-United Kingdom relations). “He seems to be scared of a real debate with elected representatives. Let him come here” to the EP, he said. On the Irish economy, he pointed out that the country's public debt is 127% of GDP, “and you would like to Europeanise the Irish debt”. This, he feels, raises a question: Will you be honest in your conduct of the Presidency if you have to defend your national interests as well? Audy suggested that Kenny play the role of go-between with the United Kingdom. Cameron will make a speech on Friday: “We feel that he is in some measure of confusion in his political thinking. If he announces a referendum on boundaries or the UK leaving, this will probably lead to Scotland leaving the United Kingdom. The stability of the country is at stake. I am sorry to see this development”, Audy said. Nigel Farage (EFD,UK) urged Ireland to hold a referendum on the country's place within the EU, as he would like his own country to do. (CG and LC/transl.fl)