Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he has engaged with his EU colleagues with a view to redefining a modern vision for Europe with particular reference to the need for solidarity, unity of purpose and mutual respect; if the experience of Europe over the past four years has identified particular or specific weaknesses needing attention the attendance to which in turn could have a major impact of confidence building and stability, politically, socially, fiscally and economically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23347/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Europe has faced an unprecedented economic challenge in recent years, with serious economic and social consequences. The Government has been engaged intensively with colleagues to meet these challenges and to get to grips with the consequences. At the core of this were the steps taken to underpin the security of and confidence in the euro. Mechanisms to provide support to Member States were put in place - initially on a temporary footing – the EFSF and the EFSM; subsequently a permanent support mechanism in the form of the ESM.

Economic governance was significantly strengthened, including through the legislative “six-pack” and “two pack”, the latter agreed under our Presidency; the European Semester process; and the Stability Treaty. We are in the process of examining steps that we need to take to further strengthen Economic and Monetary Union, and are agreed that a significant means of doing this is through a more integrated financial framework, or banking union. Last December, the European Council set an ambitious timetable for this work, and, as Presidency, we are working hard to ensure that commitments are fulfilled and deadlines met.

In March, the Irish Presidency reached provisional agreement with the European Parliament on the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). At the Informal ECOFIN meeting in Dublin, political agreement on the SSM was reached and the texts were legally adopted by Coreper on 18 April. We also secured agreement on the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD IV), will see the risk profile of the European banking system reduced over time.

It clear, however, that unemployment, especially among the young, remains a very real challenge that must be met. In this regard, I very much welcome the commitment to a dedicated €6 billion to this task as part of the new Financial Framework on which the Government is seeking to reach agreement with the Parliament. As Presidency, we have also secured agreement on the youth guarantee which will ensure that every person under 25 without a job receives a meaningful offer of work, training or education.

We also need to focus our attention on generating growth. The Commission’s forecasts for the Union are not encouraging and we need to deploy every tool at our disposal. The European Council adopted the Compact for Jobs and Growth in June last year. As Presidency, we are working with partners to ensure that it is delivered.

There can be no doubt that the crisis has placed considerable economic and social strain on people across the Union, and that this has been reflected in political outcomes in some Member States. This is something that we cannot ignore, and that must drive us to redouble our efforts to ensure economic recovery and the return of confidence. The Government will continue to insist that Europe’s future must be built on the values that have served it so well to date, including solidarity, unity of purpose and mutual respect.