12 Nov 2013, 17:22
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs this afternoon heard that the European Commission was prioritising the deepening of Economic and Monetary Union and securing growth and jobs through the strengthening of the Single Market in 2014.
12 November 2013
Barbara Nolan, head of the European Commission's Dublin Office, was before the Committee to discuss the Commission's work programme for next year. She said that the European Semester process, which involves greater coordination of Member States' economic policies, would become particularly relevant to Ireland as it exits the EU/IMF programme.
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD says: “This afternoon's meeting with Barbara Nolan was a valuable opportunity to assess the Commission’s priorities next year. It was argued that fostering a vibrant SME sector could be a key driver in securing the job creation that many countries in Europe so badly needed. The Committee heard that the European Investment Bank is playing a growing role in supporting access to finance and the Commission was conscious of simplifiying EU rules to make it easier for SMEs to do business. A number of Committee Members commended the EU funding being made available to SMEs, but pointed out that more had to be done to communicate the range of funding opportunities available to the business sector. The meeting also touched on other efforts so help small business, including building on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership launched during Ireland's EU Presidency which sets out to reduce the trade barriers between the US and EU.\"
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Committee Membership
Deputies: Eric Byrne, Seán Crowe, Timmy Dooley, Bernard J. Durkan, John Halligan, Dominic Hannigan (Chair), Seán Kyne, Dara Murphy (Vice-Chair) and Joe O’Reilly
Senators: Colm Burke, Terry Leyden, Marie Maloney, Catherine Noone and Kathryn Reilly