19 Nov 2012, 14:13
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs will host its equivalent Committee of the Latvian parliament tomorrow afternoon in Leinster House.
19 November 2012
Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevic, Chair of the Latvian Committee on EU Affairs, is leading the delegation. The meeting will consider the on-going negotiations on the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework and the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the European Union. With Latvia on track to join the Eurozone in 2014, the delegation is also expected to raise the future of the EU’s institutions in the context of Eurozone crisis.
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD says: “Ireland and Latvia have experienced similar challenges in recent years. A small country on the EU’s geographical periphery, Latvia enjoyed an economic boom before it was hit hard by the financial crisis in 2008, with its economy shrinking by 25 percent.
“As Latvia emerges from its deep recession to post strong growth figures, it is opportune to meet with Members of Latvian Parliament’s Committee on European Affairs to discuss the policy decisions now necessary at EU level, particularly in the area of economic governance, and the attitudes of Latvian citizens towards the European project. With negotiations on the EU budget from 2014 to 2020 entering a decisive phase, the Latvian Members of Parliament are also keen to explore the future of cohesion and CAP funding with our Committee.
“Latvia joined the European Union in May 2004 under the last Irish Presidency of the EU and the following years saw a considerable inflow of Latvians to this country. Ireland assumes the Presidency again for the first half of 2013, which will comprise eight meetings hosted by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Presidency has the overarching aim of securing jobs and growth across the European Union. We look forward to exchanging views with this important Committee within Latvia’s parliamentary system on how to best deliver a successful presidency for the citizens we serve.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Tuesday 20 November at 2 p.m. in Committee Room 1, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be viewed online via this link.
Follow the EU Affairs Committee Facebook page for updates.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Dominic Hannigan, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, TD
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
John Halligan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly