Priorities for Ireland's seventh EU Presidency

Ireland's Presidency of the European Council (January-June 2013) comes at a crucial time for the EU. While restoring economic growth and stability across the Union remains a clear priority, Ireland has also placed emphasis on several achievable objectives for the six-month term.

Ireland's immediate goal will be to conclude negotiations on the EU's Multi-annual Financial Framework, which sets out the budget of the EU from 2014 to 2020. Achieving such an agreement means securing vital programmes such as the Common Agricultural Policy, the Horizon 2020 research and innovation scheme and other funding tools that directly benefit European citizens.

Economic growth & job creation

A number of key internal and external issues have also been identified by the Irish Presidency but the primary themes will be the promotion of sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs.

Increasing employment opportunities across the EU, and particularly for youth, is a concrete objective that will directly benefit citizens. Ireland wishes to progress agreed measures to improve economic stability and governance by moving forward with Banking Union proposals and financial services reform.

Ireland wishes to further develop the potential for trade with foreign markets and remove barriers that impede such trade. The Presidency will encourage the effective implementation of research and innovation policy with a clear focus on science, technology and emerging sectors such as the green economy.

The Irish Presidency will not forget Europe's global responsibilities. Fighting poverty and social exclusion will also figure prominently on the agenda of the six-month term given the inclusion of poverty reduction targets in the EU's Europe 2020 strategy. The Presidency will also address the linkages between hunger, nutrition and climate justice by fostering greater understanding and ensuring they are adequately reflected in the agreement of the new international development goals post-2015.

Active citizenship

2013 is the European Year of the Citizen, an initiative launched in Dublin (on 10 January  2013) to encourage the active participation of citizens in the European project. It will generate awareness of the rights and responsibilities of citizens and encourage interaction so that their views are further represented.

The citizenship theme has the potential to inspire a sense of community and togetherness across the Union, with Ireland's Presidency aiming to build greater solidarity among Member States. Overall, Ireland aims to achieve tangible results in an effective, impartial manner and by encouraging constructive dialogue.

Ireland's seventh EU Presidency coincides with the 40th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the EU, having joined the EEC in 1973. Ireland will mark this occasion with a diverse range of cultural events across Europe to highlight its unique and shared European heritage.