Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

No, the point is that one cannot divorce the obligations of member states under the Stability and Growth Pact and Europe 2020. The strategy tells member states the core areas of economic development on which they should be focussing as a priority. Member states do not want Europe telling them how to develop every single policy area in, say, health or education. Historically, the control of those two areas has been guarded for national parliaments and executives.

I support the idea of identifying five key strategic objectives for Europe and each individual member state. No one can argue with setting targets for employment, research and development, climate change, education and social inclusion, of which the most challenging climate change and energy.

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