Noel Davern
Question:28 Mr. Davern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the aims and objectives of Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the EU. [15096/95]
Written Answers. - Ireland's EU Presidency.
The main obligation on any Presidency is to ensure an efficient, effective and impartial approach to the discharge of the business of the European Union. The aims and objectives of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December next year will be to ensure that the business of the European Union is done efficiently, that the tasks of the Union are carried out effectively and that the Presidency is conducted in an impartial manner.
A major preoccupation for the European Union next year will be the Intergovernmental Conference, due to be convened under the Italian Presidency and likely to continue through our Presidency. In addition, the formal decision on the move to the Third Stage of European Monetary Union will be made by the Dublin European Council in December 1996, thus ensuring a continuing focus on European Monetary Union through 1996 and beyond. The Dublin European Council in December 1996 will also consider the annual report on employment in the European Union. Employment will be a major concern of our Presidency and it is expected that long-term unemployment and youth unemployment will receive particular attention in the EU context.
Other important issues which are expected to be part of the agenda of the Union during our Presidency include the range of Third Pillar issues such as drugs, immigration and organised crime; growth and competitiveness will also be a major issue; agreement on the draft Union budget for 1997 will be part of the agenda for our Presidency as will the implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the management of the Union's external relations. Matters likely to be on the external relations agenda include the reconstruction of former Yugoslavia, the strengthening of relations with the US and deepening of relations with Russia as well as the further development of relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and with the Mediterranean states in the wake of the Barcelona Conference held last week.
The 1996 Presidency will involve new challenges. It is our view that with timely and careful preparation Ireland's Presidency will be in a position to move the agenda of the Union forward in important respects.