25 Feb 2013, 16:02
The Chairs of the Finance Committees from the parliaments of EU Member States today engaged in wideranging discussion with Commissioners, Ministers and leading academics on fostering better integration growth and budgetary control. Oireachtas Finance Committee Chair Ciaran Lynch TD, who is hosting the meeting, pointed to the need for Europe to look beyond the shorter term goals of overcoming the current financial challenges. He argued that the longer term goals, such as energy security, reducing youth unemployment and the sustainability of the European social model needed to be central to disussions.
Deputy Lynch says: “I believe that we must continue to ask ourselves, what our overall vision for sustainable growth in Europe is, and how does this underpin and maintain the European standard of living and social model. We have heard today from Commissioner Rehn regarding the Winter Forecast, we have debated the future of the Economic and Monetary Union, and touched on some important proposed technical measures such as bank resolution. We have heard an update on progress under Ireland’s EU-IMF programme, from Minister Noonan.
\"We had a stimulating discussion on the role and size of the multiannual EU Budget, and prospects for stimulus within the EU, especially relating to youth unemployment. Finally, we have turned our attention to the role of national parliaments. We as national parliamentarians are crucial to the evolving economic governance of the EU. We are also central to the need to communicate a better and more open European dialogue; to fashion a European philosophy that increasingly delivers a social return. Europe must deliver for all its people.”
View YouTube clip of Deputy Lynch reflecting on the debate: http://youtu.be/hfxemiCbLMM
The event is the second in a series of eight meetings being hosted by the Houses of the Oireachtas during the six month Presidency, details of which are accessible on www.parleu2013.ie.
ENDS
Photos: Photos of the event will be available from Maxwells - tel: +353 1 830-8072 or email office@maxwellphotography.ie
Conference footage: Broadcast quality copies of the proceedings will be available from the OBU, who can be contacted on +353 1 6183789 ; mobile +353 86 8193399 or email facilities@picommunications.ie,
For further information, please contact:
Paul Hand,
M: +353 87 694 9926
E: paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
or
Cáit Hayes,
Mob: +353 87 9190300
E: cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie