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On 1 July 2009, Sweden took over the Presidency of the EU. This means that for six months, Sweden is leading the EU's work and is responsible for moving important EU issues forward.
The Presidency of the Council rotates between the Member States. The Presidency rotates on a half-yearly basis. The country presiding over the Council functions as the driving force in the EU's legislative and political decision-making process.
The Presidency is a unique opportunity for Sweden to lead and influence work on important EU issues. At the same time, the country holding the Presidency must be flexible and prepared to deal with unexpected issues.
News
Tuesday 29th July
The Committee had an exchange of views about the Lisbon Reform Treaty with Maurice Hayes (Chairman of the National Forum on Europe) and will resume its discussion on The Commission White Paper on the Integration of EU Mortgage Credit Markets with representatives of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Irish Banking Federation.
Tuesday 15th July
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, briefed the Joint Committee on items for discussion at the forthcoming GAERC meeting
Tuesday 8th July
The Committee met with representatives of Trocaire & Oxfam Ireland to discuss the EU's Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Carribean and Pacific Countries. There was also a discussion on the EU's Association Agreement with the Andean Community with representatives of the Latin American Solidarity Centre.
Wednesday 4 June
The Joint Committee will meet with representatives of the IFA to discuss the Lisbon Reform Treaty.
The Joint Committee on European Affairs toured the country to debate the Lisbon Reform Treaty
The Joint Committee held meetings at a number of regional venues to stimulate public debate on the Lisbon Reform Treaty and to assess the views of the general public on its contents.
Following an initial public meeting at Dublin City University on April 10 the tour brought the Committee to Galway on April 17, followed by meetings in Cork, Dundalk and Athlone, winding up in Limerick on May 15.
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Tuesday 27 May
The Joint Committee heard presentations by and exchange views with Trócaire, Concern and Dóchas on the Lisbon Reform Treaty
The Joint Committee on European Affairs toured the country to debate the Lisbon Reform Treaty
The Joint Committee held meetings at a number of regional venues to stimulate public debate on the Lisbon Reform Treaty and to assess the views of the general public on its contents.
Following an initial public meeting at Dublin City University on April 10 the tour brought the Committee to Galway on April 17, followed by meetings in Cork, Dundalk and Athlone, winding up in Limerick on May 15.
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Joint Committee on European Affairs will undertake an Information and Public Awareness Programme during the referendum campaign on the Lisbon Treaty
The Lisbon Treaty was formally signed by the 27 Member States on December 13. Each Member State must ratify it according to its own constitutional or legal requirements before it can take effect on schedule in January 2009.
In the context of the likely referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in this country the Joint Committee on European Affairs will hold a series of meetings in January with representatives of the main Social Partners to facilitate discussion and debate on those aspects of the Treaty which are of particular importance to them. Following these meetings, the Committee will publish an interim report on the Treaty for presentation to both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Committee will then undertake an information and public awareness initiative to inform people about the contents of the Lisbon Treaty and to encourage and stimulate debate in public fora and in the media on its implications for the future of the EU, the future of Ireland as a member of the EU, and for the daily lives of Irish citizens.
The Committee’s objectives in undertaking this Information and Public Awareness Programme would be three-fold: to provide information to as wide an audience as possible, to receive feedback and, having evaluated it, to prepare a formal report on the Treaty for presentation to both Houses of the Oireachtas and the Government. More specifically, the Committee would:
- act as an “honest broker” in providing balanced and factual information on the Treaty to the general public so that eligible voters can make an informed judgment on its contents before referendum day;
- undertake a series of public meetings in strategic locations throughout the country where the general public can engage with members of the Committee and invited speakers on key aspects of the Treaty;
- devote a majority of its meetings in Leinster House to the Treaty;
- cooperate with other institutions and organisations who will commit themselves to providing factual information and balanced debate on the Treaty.
Tuesday 13 May
The Joint Committee met with Irish Alliance for Europe to discuss the Lisbon Reform Treaty.
Tuesday 29 April
The Joint Committee debated the Lisbon Reform Treaty with Irish MEPs.
Wednesday 23 April
The Minister for State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., briefed the Joint Committee on the items for discussion and decision on the agenda of the forthcoming GAERC meeting. Read More...
Tuesday 8 April 2008
The Joint Committee continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Reform Treaty with the participation of representatives of VoteNo.ie, People’s Movement and Peace and Neutrality Alliance
Tuesday 11th March
The Joint Committee on European Affairs continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Reform Treaty when it met with representatives of ICA and USI
5 March 2008
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., briefed the Joint Committee on items for discussion and decision on the agenda for the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.
Thursday 28 February
Cooperation between the European Commission and National Parliaments: On Thursday 28 February the Joint Committee met with Vice-President of the European Commission Margot Wallström, who has responsibility for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy. Read More...
Tuesday 19 February
Lisbon Reform Treaty: The Joint Committee continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Reform Treaty when it met with representatives of the IFA.
The EU’s role in the Middle East Peace Process: The Committee exchanged views with the His Excellency Zion Evrony, Ambassador of Israel to Ireland, Dr. Hikmat Ajjuri, Delegate General, and Mr. Yussef Dorkhom Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Palestine General Delegation.
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Wednesday 13 February: The Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D, briefed the Joint Committee on the items for discussion and decision on the agenda of the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting
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Tuesday 5 February: The Joint Committee exchanged views with His Excellency Mag. Franc Mikša, Slovenian Ambassador to Ireland, on the programme and priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency. Slovenia is the first of the new Member States from the 2004 enlargement to hold the EU Presidency
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The Lisbon Treaty
Tuesday 29th January: The Joint Committee on European Affairs continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Treaty when it met with representatives from ICOS and ICMSA.
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Tuesday 22 January: The Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D, briefed the Joint Committee on the items for discussion and decision on the agenda of the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.
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The Joint Committee met social partners ISME and Chambers Ireland on Thursday 17th January to discuss The Lisbon Treaty
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The Joint Committee met with representatives of IBEC and ICTU, on Tuesday 15 January, to discuss The Lisbon Treaty.
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Europe’s Social Reality Consultation
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, on Tuesday 11th December, to discuss Europe’s Social Reality Consultation
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EU Treaty Reform
In seeking to move forward with institutional reform in the European Union, the European Council in June 2006 invited the German EU Presidency to present a report (a ‘road map’) on a way forward for the EU to the June 2007 European Council. The intention was to have an institutional settlement in place before the European Parliament elections in 2009 so that the new Parliament could begin its mandate under the new Treaty...
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Treaty of Rome Celebrations
On 25th March 2007 the European Union celebrated its 50th anniversary. On 25th March 1957 the signing of the Treaty of Rome created what is now the European Union. On that historical date six nations, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, signed the Treaty which launched Europe’s common market...
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