Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 24 January 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

General Affairs Council: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

11:00 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Tánaiste on progress to date in respect of a series of European matters. In particular, we should acknowledge the progress made by the Government on the confidence that has been restored to the extent that we were able to re-enter the international bond markets in a confident fashion in the past few weeks. I am not just saying this because the Tánaiste is here. This augurs well for the future and certainly recognises the tremendous effort made by a series of Ministers, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach in their various capacities and we should recognise that.

The Tánaiste's point about confidence resulting in growth, stability and youth employment is well made. The emphasis on youth employment is particularly important at this time from the point of each member state and the EU as an entity. We must support and pursue vigorously the objectives set out by the Tánaiste and the EU.

I strongly support the greater emphasis on enlargement which has come about for a variety of reasons, particularly in the western Balkans and the need to include all possible applicant countries so as to ensure that nobody feels they are left out or that a longer term approach to achieving their objectives is being applied to them. From the point of view of an applicant state, it is most important that it is recognises that if it follows the acquis communautaire and the EU guidelines on human rights and the need to observe strictly the regime on human rights, it expects its efforts will receive recognition.

My last point concerns the UK, around which much discussion will take place and which will probably be the subject matter for discussion in the meeting next week. I suggest this could be a positive thing in a peculiar way. We have all carefully read Mr. Cameron's speech. He seemed to suggest that the EU should focus on certain aspects of its structures. He did not seem to close the door indefinitely. It presents an ideal opportunity for all member states to identify the extent to which Euroscepticism has eroded the European vision over the past number of years. It presents a unique opportunity to address that issue in a very clear and positive way which will be beneficial for the UK and the other member states.

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