The priorities of Ireland’s European Council presidency presented in the European Parliament
The priorities of the Irish Presidency of the European Council were presented and discussed during this week’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee meeting.
The programme is available here: www.eu2013.ie. This is a double anniversary for Ireland, since this year it is the seventh time the small country has the presidency – even though the first time they shared it with two other countries - and they are celebrating their fortieth EU membership anniversary.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defense, Alan Shatter, presented the priorities of the Irish Presidency on Tuesday, 22th of January 2013 and answered MEPs’ questions. The minister underlined that the Irish presidency must do its best in order to be able to successfully implement the action plan and reach its three major goals: stability, job creation and growth. “We need to bring Europe’s economy back to its best shape by creating jobs, generating and guaranteeing growth. These are the priorities that define the political agenda of the presidency.” Alan Shatter thoroughly assessed the importance of the data protection package and the challenges represented by the confiscation of proceeds of crime. He also brought up the subject of PNR (passenger name record), which is of particular importance for EU-wide security, and prioritized Schengen issues such as SIS 2. Finally, he promised to accelerate Romanian and Bulgarian accession to the Schengen area and to close as many visa cases as possible, putting emphasis on the Common European Asylum System and the Dublin Regulation. Regarding the Multi-annual Financial Framework the Minister said Ireland would try to allocate as much funding as possible to growth and stability.
DAHR MEP Csaba Sógor, member of the LIBE committee, raised several questions on the subject, one being related to the dilemma from the European Union Council weather to favor directives to regulations in the field. While directives allow a certain amount of freedom to the member state, regulations are stricter and thus not appropriate for some countries such as the United Kingdom or Hungary. It could happen, that the legislation in a member state is already stronger than the regulation demands, forcing the state to “dumb down” the laws. This is a common phenomenon that created a blocking minority.
Sógor Csaba was eager to know when was the accession to the Schengen area of Romania and Bulgaria scheduled, and what was the strategy of the Irish presidency in the field. Alan Shatten assured that his country would take every necessary step towards reforming the management of the Schengen area and would prioritize the accession of these two member states.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defense, Alan Shatter, presented the priorities of the Irish Presidency on Tuesday, 22th of January 2013 and answered MEPs’ questions. The minister underlined that the Irish presidency must do its best in order to be able to successfully implement the action plan and reach its three major goals: stability, job creation and growth. “We need to bring Europe’s economy back to its best shape by creating jobs, generating and guaranteeing growth. These are the priorities that define the political agenda of the presidency.” Alan Shatter thoroughly assessed the importance of the data protection package and the challenges represented by the confiscation of proceeds of crime. He also brought up the subject of PNR (passenger name record), which is of particular importance for EU-wide security, and prioritized Schengen issues such as SIS 2. Finally, he promised to accelerate Romanian and Bulgarian accession to the Schengen area and to close as many visa cases as possible, putting emphasis on the Common European Asylum System and the Dublin Regulation. Regarding the Multi-annual Financial Framework the Minister said Ireland would try to allocate as much funding as possible to growth and stability.
DAHR MEP Csaba Sógor, member of the LIBE committee, raised several questions on the subject, one being related to the dilemma from the European Union Council weather to favor directives to regulations in the field. While directives allow a certain amount of freedom to the member state, regulations are stricter and thus not appropriate for some countries such as the United Kingdom or Hungary. It could happen, that the legislation in a member state is already stronger than the regulation demands, forcing the state to “dumb down” the laws. This is a common phenomenon that created a blocking minority.
Sógor Csaba was eager to know when was the accession to the Schengen area of Romania and Bulgaria scheduled, and what was the strategy of the Irish presidency in the field. Alan Shatten assured that his country would take every necessary step towards reforming the management of the Schengen area and would prioritize the accession of these two member states.
