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On 1 July Belgium assumed the presidency of the EU, taking over from Spain. For six months, the main task of the country which holds the presidency is to organise and manage the work of the Council of the European Union where the member states are represented.
The Spanish Presidency coincided with the beginning of a new phase for the EU, with a renewed Parliament and Commission and a new treaty in effect since 1 December. With this outlook, Spain, Belgium and Hungary have drawn up a work programme for the 18-month period (January 2010 to July 2011) during which they will hold the Presidency in succession, according to the new regulations which apply in Europe.
It will be the first ‘trio’ of presidencies to be formalised and perform its functions in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon. The aim of this new procedure is to provide the work and initiatives of the EU with more continuity.
Joint Committee on European Affairs, 14th Report
"European Monetary Union: Challenges and Options" (Rapporteur: Senator Paschal Donohoe)
Joint Committee on European Affairs, 14th Report
14th Report, "EMU Challenges and Options"
Authors:
Joint Committee on European Affairs
Joint Committee on European Scrutiny
Review of the Role of the Oireachtas in European Affairs
Joint Committee on European Affairs, 13th Report
"The Need for Strong EU Financial Regulation" (Rapporteur: Senator John Hanafin)
Joint Committee on European Affairs, 13th Report
Joint Committee on European Affairs, 12th Report
"Report on the Joint Committee’s Contribution to the European Commission on the future “EU2020” Strategy"
Joint Committee on European Affairs, 12th Report
EU Scrutiny Report No. 6
"Report on the Joint Committee on European Affairs’ Contribution to the European Commission on its Green Paper on a European Citizens’ Initiative"
Joint Committee on European Affairs, Eleventh Report
'The position of Minority Groups in Europe - an examination of Roma policies in the European Union'
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Main Tasks of the Joint Committee
The main task of the Joint Committee is to monitor, review and report on the implications of EU policies for the future of the EU, for the future of Ireland as a member of the EU and for people's daily lives. Read more…
Previous Business
Tuesday 29th June 2010
The Joint Committee met with Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science to discuss the EU Commission Portfolio for Research and Innovation and the EU2020 Strategy.
Wednesday 23rd June 2010
The Joint Committee held a discussion on the Joint Committee’s Motions on the situation in Gaza and the EU/Israel Euro Mediterranean Association Agreement 1995, in particular Article 2 concerning the parties’ human rights obligations with Ms. Anne Herzberg, Legal Advisor to NGO Monitor.
Tuesday 22nd June 2010
The Joint Committee held a discussion on the Joint Committee’s Motions on the situation in Gaza and the EU/Israel Euro Mediterranean Association Agreement 1995, in particular Article 2 concerning the parties’ human rights obligations with Col. Desmond Travers, co-author of the Goldstone Report, H.E. Dr. Hikmat Ajjuri, General Delegation of Palestine (pictured above), H.E. Dr. Zion Evrony, Israeli Ambassador to Ireland and Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Tuesday 15th June 2010
The Joint Committee met with a delegation from the Czech Senate to discuss the EU2020 Strategy and EU enlargement.
Thursday 10th June 2010
The Joint Committee met with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., in advance of the General Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Development Council Meetings.
Thursday 3rd June 2010
The Joint Committee met with Representatives of the Department of An Taoiseach Department of Finance and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to discuss the EU2020 Strategy.
Tuesday 18th May 2010
The Joint Committee met with Dr. Raj Chari, Department of Political Science TCD, to discuss the Regulation of Lobbyists in the EU.
Thursday 6th May 2010
The Joint Committee met with Ministers of State Dick Roche and Peter Power in advance of the Foreign Affairs and Development Council and the General Affairs Council Meetings.
Thursday 22nd April 2010
The Joint Committee met with Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen T.D. and Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Dick Roche T.D. in advance of the Foreign Affairs/Defence and General Affairs Council Meetings.
Tuesday 13th April 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Dore Gold, Director of the Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs, to exchange views on Israel and the EU.
Thursday 30th March 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Pronsias de Rossa, MEP in his capacity as Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the Palestinian Legislative Council to discuss the role of the EU in the Middle East Peace Process and related Committee motions.
Tuesday 25th March 2010
The Joint Committee met with directors of Social Justice Ireland, Fr. Sean Healy S.M.A and Sr. Brigid Reynolds, to the EU2020 Strategy.
Thursday 11th March 2010
The Joint Committee met with Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister, and H.E. Altay Cengizer, Turkish Ambassador in Dublin, to discuss Turkey and the EU.
Tuesday 9th March 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Jasenko Selimovic, Head of the Social Democratic Party President’s Office in Bosnia-Herzegovina to discuss Bosnia’s EU path, the EU Bosnia-Herzegovina Visa Facilitation Agreement and the political situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
Wednesday 17th February 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Council Meetings
Tuesday 9th February 2010
The Joint Committee met with Ms. Anastasia Crickley, a member of the Management Board of the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). Ms. Crickley was accompanied by Dr. Alpha Connelly, a member of the Scientific Committee of the FRA, Mr Philip Watt and Ms. Catherine Lynch of the European Network Against Racism.
Thursday 4th February 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Yehuda Shaul, Director of “Breaking the Silence” and Mr. Eoin Murray, Head of Advocacy, Trócaire to discuss Israel’s military actions in the Occupied Territories.
Tuesday 2nd February 2010
The Joint Committee met with HE Ms. Mercedes Rico, Ambassador of Spain to Ireland, HE Mr. Robert Devriese, Ambassador of Belgium and HE Mr. Ferenc Jári, Ambassador of Hungary to Ireland to discuss the Priorities of the EU Spanish Presidency and the 18-month programme of the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies.
Tuesday 26th January 2010
The Joint Committee met with representatives of European Movement Ireland to discuss the European Commission Green Paper on the citizens’ initiative, COM (2009) 622.
Friday 22nd January 2010
The Joint Committee met with Nessa Childers MEP, Proinsias De Rossa MEP, Alan Kelly MEP and Gay Mitchell MEP to discuss the European Commission Green Paper on the citizens’ initiative, COM (2009) 622.
Thursday 21 January 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Council Meetings
Tuesday 12 January 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Dick Roche TD, Minister of State for European Affairs, to discuss the Commission Working Document: Consultation on the Future "EU2020" Strategy
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
- The Green Paper on the European Citizens' Initiative COM (2009) 622
- Contribution to the European Commission on the Green paper on Promoting the learning mobility of young people COM (2009) 329
- Joint Contribution (with the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) to the Minister of State Tony Killeen on the Green paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. COM (2009) 163
Thursday 3 December 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Wednesday 25 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food to discuss the Green Paper on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy COM (2009)163.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with representative landowners in the All Saints Bog and Esker SAC, Co. Offaly regarding the implementation of the Habitats Directive.
Thursday 12 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Dick Roche, TD Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Peter Power, TD Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Thursday 5 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with the Equality Rights Alliance to discuss their complaint to the European Commission concerning failure to comply with EU Law in the area of Equality
Tuesday 27 October 2009
The Joint Committee met with H.E. Mr. Borys Bazylevskyi, Ambassador of the Ukraine to Ireland to discuss current developments in the Ukraine, European integration, energy security, the free trade area and bilateral relations with Ireland.
Wednesday 21 October 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss
the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting.
Tuesday, 29 September
The Joint Committee held a discussion on the Lisbon Treaty with Minister John Gormley, Leader of the Green Party
Thursday 24th September
The Joint Committee met with Deputy Enda Kenny, Leader of Fine Gael, to continue it’s series of discussions on The Lisbon Treaty
Tuesday, 22nd September
Members met with Deputy Eamon Gilmore, Leader of the Labour Party, to hear his views on The Lisbon Treaty
Thursday 17th September
The JCEA met with Mr. Caoimhghin Ó’Caoláin TD, Leader of Sinn Fein to continue discussions on the Lisbon Treaty
Wednesday 16th September
The Joint Committee met with the Most Reverend Dr. Noel Treanor, Irish Delegate to the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences in the European Community (COMECE) to continue it’s series of discussions on The Lisbon Treaty
Thursday 10th September
Members met with Mr Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Tuesday 8th September
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD to discuss why Ireland needs Europe and The Lisbon Treaty. The Committee also met with Mr Reuf Bajrovic, Bosnian Political Analyst to examine the future of EU Foreign Policy and how to reach peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Members met with Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche TD to discuss the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Thursday 16 July 2009
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with representatives of Amnesty International Ireland to discuss The EU’s Association Agreement with Israel and related matters and also to discuss its contribution to the European Commission Annual Policy Strategy 2010.
Tuesday 30th June
The Committee met with H.E. Mr Claes Ljungdahl Ambassador of Sweden to Irelandto discuss the Priorities of the Swedish Presidency
Tuesday 23rd June
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with represenatives of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign to discuss The EU’s Association Agreement with Israel and related matters
Thursday 11th June
Members met with Minister Micheál Martin to discuss the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Tuesday 19th May
The JCEA held a discussion on the EU Commission Annual Policy Strategy 2010 with representatives of Microsoft Ireland, Forfás, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and ESB International
Thursday 14th May
The Joint Committee hosted a discussion in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council with Mr. Dick Roche, Minister of State for European Affairs
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Tuesday 5th May
Members met with the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka at present
Tuesday 28th April
The Joint Committee was given a presentation by by Mr David Waddell on the Report of the Standards in Public Office Commission,"Third Parties and The Referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon"
Thursday 23rd April
The JCEA held a Discussion on the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and also debated the Joint Committee’s Resolution on Ireland’s Eel Management Plan
Oireachtas Oversight of EU Decisions
Useful Links
Houses of the Oireachtas
Europa
COSAC
Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments
IPEX
Irish MEPs
Previous Business
View information on previous business of the Joint Committee.
15th January 2009
The Joint Committee were presented with and agreed two motions regarding The Situation in Gaza and the EU / Israel Association Agreement. Reports were laid before both Houses. Please click here to view the reports.
Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in Europe
The Sub-Committee was established following the result of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. The Sub-Committee analysed the challenges facing Ireland following the Lisbon Treaty referendum result and considered Ireland’s future in the EU.
To view the Sub-Committee’s report please click here
Membership of the Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union
Senator Paschal Donohoe, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Thomas Byrne, TD (Fine Fáil)
Joe Costello, TD, (Labour)
Lucinda Creighton, TD (Fine Gael)
Timmy Dooley, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Beverly Flynn, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Michael McGrath, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Billy Timmins, TD (Fine Gael)
Senator Deirdre deBurca (GP)
Senator Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin)
Senator Ronan Mullen, (Independent)
Senator Phil Prendergast, (Lab)
To view the Report on the Joint Committee’s Contribution to the European Commission on its Annual Policy Strategy 2009, please click here
European Youth Parliament
The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, addresses the European Youth Parliament held in Dáil Éireann on 16th November 2007.
Watch the President's address to the European Youth Parliament
Find out more about the European Youth Parliament