Youth unemployment and global development prioritised at high-level parliamentary conference

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and telecoms entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim wer among those who addressed almost 300 European parliamentarians in Dublin today Monday 24 June on fostering a forward and outward looking European Union.

24 June 2013

High on the agenda were efforts to forge more coherent positions across the European Union on fostering employment for Europe’s young citizens and global development.

The meeting is the 49th plenary of COSAC, the conference of the committees from national parliaments dealing with EU Affairs as well as representatives of the European Parliament. It is taking place in the Printworks Conference Centre, Dublin Castle and continues (tomorrow) Tuesday, 25 June.

Oireachtas EU Affairs Committee Chairman Dominic Hannigan, who is chairing proceedings, says: “In this decisive period for Europe, national parliaments have an indispensable role to play in underpinning democracy in an evolving European Union. This morning, our counterparts from across the European Union and beyond heard Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD outline the areas of progress of the Irish Presidency. Pointing to the agreement for a six billion euro fund to combat youth unemployment, he said those Member States worst affected by this scourge needed to have the robust programmes in place to fully benefit from this funding from the beginning of 2014.  The Taoiseach also referred to the dynamic political changes at play in this globalised world, as a result of the rise of Asian powers and growing populations and economies in Africa.”

“Discussions later in the day focussed on bolstering EU development policy. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim emphasised the role of the private sector, saying that business should be more proactive in policymaking in developing countries. Michele Striffler MEP of the European Parliament's Development Committee pointed to the overwhelming popular support among European populations for robust humanitarian programmes. Meanwhile, CEO of Goal Barry Andrews said that Ireland had been at the forefront of the development debate for decades, which began with its missionaries and continues through the work of its official aid programme and its leading NGOs.”  

Commenting on COSAC’s programme for tomorrow, Deputy Hannigan concludes: “Underpinning our discussions with our fellow parliamentarians in Dublin Castle will be the motivation to foster a forward and outward looking European Union. Tomorrow’s discussions will commence with an address by Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD. We will also hear from three young Europeans from diverse backgrounds, each of whom will share their perspectives on the future of the European Union. Later in the morning, we will focus on forging common ground on progressing enlargement, one of the European Union’s most successful policies.”

The conference concludes tomorrow Tuesday 25 June. The Oireachtas Twitter feed  @oireachtasnews will carry updates over the course of tomorrow. A live webcast of the proceedings can be accessed via www.parleu2013.ie/live or alternatively people can view proceedings on Oireachtas Channel UPC 207.

Photos of the event are accessible via the Oireachtas Flickr feed.

Speeches are accessible via the main event page on www.parleu2013.ie.

Media:  Due to space limitations, there will be no access to the Printworks Conference Hall for non-delegates. Journalists are welcome to attend and follow the proceedings from a live video feed, which will be provided within the environs of the conference centre.  Media are also advised the Werburgh Street Media Centre will not be open for this event.

For further information or to register your interest in attending the event, please contact:
Paul Hand,
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
E: paul.hand@oireachtas.ie

or

Cáit Hayes,
T: +353 1 6183883
M: +353 87 9190300
E: cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie

Programme: Plenary Meeting of the XLIX COSAC, Tuesday 25 June

Theme: A forward and outward-looking Europe

Venue: The Printworks Dublin Castle

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

09:00 - ‘A European Future for Young Citizens’
Address by Ruairi Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills
Interventions by three young European citizens, Nevin Öztop (Turkey), Rachel Creevy (Ireland) and Marietta Herfort (Hungary)

10:50 - ‘Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy – Maintaining Momentum’
Address by Valentin Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina
Address by Erwan Fouéré, Associate Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels
To respond: Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez, Vice President of the European Parliament

12:15 - Adoption of the Conclusions and Contribution of COSAC XLIX