Tuesday the 5th of May 2009
Irish Interests
Ireland Transformed
Ireland has experienced a profound transformation in political, economic and social terms over the past forty years. The decision of the Lemass government in the 1960s to pursue full membership of the then EEC was a seminal moment in Irish history. Entry to the EEC offered the prospect of economic development in an open market, and financial support for development of human and physical infrastructure, and an opportunity to break the historic ties with Britain and emerge as a mature, liberal, European democracy.
An IEA study of Ireland's first twenty -five years of EU membership concluded that "Europe is not so much the cause of these transformations as their context. For they were only possible with the creation of an international regime which is voluntary, law-based and pluralist, which constrains the naked use of state power, protects small states in international negotiation and supports both individual and cultural freedom."
Irish Men and Women
Irish membership of the EU has been characterised by significant contributions to the evolution of the Union's institutions and policies and has provided a setting within which Irish men and women have played important roles. Successive Irish Presidencies of the Council have underlined the capacity of smaller Member Stares to show effective leadership as in the response in 1990 to German reunification, the negotiation of the Stability and Growth Pact in 1996 and the agreement on the text of the draft Constitutional Treaty in 2004.
Irish nationals in the Commission such as Dr Patrick Hillery, Peter Sutherland and Ray MacSharry have pioneered important policy advances. For a decade now the top position in the Commission staff - Secretary General - has been held by Irish officials, David O'Sullivan and Catherine Day. An Irish MEP, Pat Cox, was elected President of the European Parliament. An Irish General, Pat Nash, has commanded a major EU peacekeeping operation in Chad.
Average Wage Increased from 60% of EU average to 138% Since 1973
Before Ireland joined the EEC in 1973 the country had high unemployment, low levels of income and high levels of emigration. Since then the overall success of the economy within the European Union has been reflected in an increase in average earnings from just 60% of the Community average to more than 135% today.
A Million New Jobs Since 1973
Access to the Internal Market, the impact of EU transfers for capital projects and high levels of FDI have contributed to sustained economic growth over a decade which saw as many as a million new jobs created with an increase in employment in sectors with long-term potential based on high technological content. Free and fair competition between EU countries has provided a stimulus for trade and investment.
Euro 58 Billion in EU Funding in Transfer Payments Since 1973
Ireland has benefited from transfers from the European Regional, Social and Cohesion Funds. Apart from the substantial financial benefits to the agricultural sector there has been significant investment in up to 150 major infrastructure projects together with important levels of funding for vocational training and research.
Euro 40 Billion for Irish Farmers Since 1973
Each year funding of up to Euro 2 Billion goes to farming families and to support the development of rural Ireland. Beyond support for more efficient food production the EU funds ensure action on environmental protection. These resources have reached every parish and townland in Ireland.
European Investment Bank Finance
Since 1973, the European Investment Bank has made loans totalling Euro 10 billion to support investment projects. The Euro 450 million lent in 2008 was directed to key projects in the transport, energy and Research & Development sectors.
Nearly 1,000 Foreign Companies, employing 138,000 workers, set up in Ireland
Some 960 foreign companies have set up in Ireland of which more than 430 are from other EU Member States. Many of these have been at the cutting edge in terms of technology and research in sectors such as IT hardware and software, pharmaceuticals,
medical devices and food products.
Investment by US Companies in Ireland exceeds combined investment in BRICs
For many US and other international companies Ireland is seen as a gateway to the EU Internal Market. In recent years, US investment in Ireland has been greater than combined US investment in China, India, Russia and Brazil. In 2006, US inward investment stood at $83 billion compared with $73 billion in the BRICS.
Introduction of the Euro; doing business in EU more convenient and cost effective
The case for adoption of the Euro was compelling having regard to the vital importance of being at the centre of EU affairs for FDI. In the current crisis Eurozone membership has ensured that there was no meltdown like that in Iceland and the stabilising influence of the ECB has provided an environment within which effective national policy responses can be devised and implemented. Lower interest rates have benefited mortgage holders and borrowers
Growing Market as EU Enlarged
Since the introduction of the Internal Market in the early 1990s the European Union has enlarged from twelve to twenty-seven Member States. This has brought the number of potential consumers in the EU to almost 500 million, providing a real momentum for economic growth and development.
25, 000 Irish Students have Gained through Erasmus Exchange Programme
To date, some 25,000 young Irish people have participated in the Erasmus Programme, studying at institutions throughout Europe. EU funding in the next few years will provide Euro 80 million to fund Erasmus places for 18,500 Irish third-level students and work placements for 4,000 Irish trainees. As many as 900 Irish schools and 300 adult education organisations will participate in European partnerships.
4,000 Visiting Students Annually Enrich Irish Colleges
The Erasmus Programme is a two-way arrangement. As Irish students travel to colleges and universities across Europe our colleges receive students from the other Member States. These exchanges clearly benefit the individual students but also enrich both the colleges and wider society from their diverse academic and cultural backgrounds.
Significant Support for Northern Ireland Peace Process
The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland (PEACE) has contributed more than Euro 600 million in support of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.
Political
Europe Direct: a more transparent Europe
Europe Direct has been set up to help citizens get the most out of the EU and to help ordinary Europeans deal with what can be seen as a confusing place. The system can help with queries on rights, on recognition of qualifications, on residence permits etc. Toll free numbers provide easy access to information and assistance.
Consular Protection for all EU citizens
Outside the Union, EU citizens can avail of consular services provided by another EU embassy if their country is not represented. Help can be obtained in situations of illness, accident, becoming a victim of violent crime or requiring urgent repatriation.
A Force for Good
Peace in Europe was advanced when France and Germany came together in the Coal and Steel Community in the early 1950s ad the expanding European Union has brought about security and stability across the continent. International security has become a major issue for the EU.
Peacekeeping; Humanitarian Aid
The Union's European Security and Defence Policy ESDP includes a growing capacity for a range of missions from humanitarian and rescue operations to peacekeeping duties, crisis management and peacemaking under the terms of the UN Charter. Significant missions have been undertaken in Bosnia, Macedonia and Chad. Particular attention is given to civilian projects in areas such as judicial reform, creation of modern police forces and actions to combat corruption.
Europol: Policing Europe together
Europol, the EU law enforcement agency, brings police forces across Europe together in the fight against drug trafficking, illicit immigration, terrorism, human trafficking, forgery and money laundering. Europol helps forces to share information and intelligence.
European Voluntary Service
The European Voluntary Service provides opportunities for young people, between
the ages of 18-25, to spend between six to twelve months in another country. EVS projects help in areas such as the environment, arts and culture and sports and leisure.
Promoting Democracy: EU Observers in action
The EU works to promote and expand democracy through its external action. EU observers monitor several elections every year. This vigilance helps to boost confidence in the electoral process and legitimise it in local people's eyes. In the 2006 election in Congo - the first for more than four decades - over 100 teams of EU observers made a positive input to a historic exercise in democracy.
Global Solidarity: Aid from Europe
The EU is one of the world's biggest donors of development and humanitarian aid.
Working with international organisations and NGOs the EU is not alone providing aid but seeking to promote economic, rural, administrative and social development.
Win-win Enlargement
From the original EEC of six members the European Union has grown to a 27-country Union today with further candidates for membership, including Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia. Enlargement has been to everybody's benefit, politically, economically
and socially. The EU provides extensive support for the candidate countries and for neighbouring countries with future prospects of membership.
Economy
European Social Fund / Training
The European Social Fund is devoted to promoting employment in the EU. It assists the national education and training services to equip workers and companies with the skills needed in a challenging, global environment. In the period 2007-2013 some Euro 75 billion will be distributed to the Member States and regions.
EU Internal Market
The EU Single Market is unique as it guarantees free movement - of people, goods, services and capital - providing the possibility for EU citizens to live, work, study and do business throughout the 27 Member States and to enjoy a wide choice of competitively priced goods and services.
Regional Development
Unity and solidarity are some of the most significant aims for the European Union. The Union's regional and structural policies have reflected the principle that equal standards and rights should be available to citizens in every part of the Union.
Freedom of Movement: Borderless Europe
EU citizens have the right to travel, live and work anywhere in European Union countries. This means that they have opportunities to learn more and explore new cultures. Young people in particular have benefited from these freedoms.
Euro - one currency - lower Interest Rates
The Euro has produced many tangible benefits from the practical advantages of travelling with a single currency to economic growth and stability and the strengthening of the EU's international role. The European Central Bank plays a key role in fighting inflation and stabilising the Eurozone economy, particularly at a time of international turbulence.
European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank is Europe's key financing institution, facilitating major infrastructure projects and supporting the growth of small and medium sized enterprises.
The EIB made loans totalling Euro 57 billion in 2008, including Euro 8 billion for SMEs.
This brought the total of EIB loans outstanding to Euro 350 billion.
Working Abroad
EURES is a network devoted to assisting job mobility in the EU. It has a job-search database and provides advice and information about living and working conditions.
Euros have some 700 advisers to counsel job seekers and employers.
European Patent Convention
The EU has produced laws aiming at protecting intellectual property - industrial designs, patents and copyrights. Corporate and individual knowledge is protected.
Keeping Europe in Touch: Trans-European Networks
Trans-European Networks TENS help the movement of goods and people across Europe through rail and road links while taking full account of environmental concerns. TENS also facilitate distribution of electricity and gas through efficient grids and improvement of essential communications, including positioning systems, through the Galileo satellite.
MEDIA project: support for film and audio-visual industry
The MEDIA project aims to stimulate the creative aspects of film development in the EU and provide funding and other support for training, production and distribution. More than 300 projects have received almost Euro 20 million to develop scripts and distribution of 1,500 film and TV projects has been supported.
INTERREG Initiative
The INTERREG initiative has been developing the economies and communities of cross-
border regions across the EU. Support has been given to improving cross-border transport links - between Dublin and Belfast and between Helsinki and St Petersburg.
Access to Technology
The information society is now a reality. The i2010 initiative is designed to give all EU citizens - regardless of age, physical ability and location - access to the opportunities offered by information and communications technologies. Availability of high-speed Broadband is being encouraged by European funding.
Rights
Charter of Fundamental Rights
The European Charter of Fundamental Rights brings together all the separate documents about the rights of European citizens as well as the judgements made by the official European courts. The Charter also sets down certain fundamental economic and social rights. The Charter does not expand the powers of the EU or give European citizens any new rights. It makes rights more visible and means that Europeans will be better placed than they have ever been to get the most out of the EU. The Charter has political status but, until the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, it is not fully legally binding.
Rights for Travellers
The EU has agreed rules on air passengers' rights, covering issues such as rights for those delayed by more than a few hours or subject to cancellation without prior notice. Airlines are made responsible for making provision for compensation, availability of refreshments, communication and, if appropriate, accommodation.
Health and Safety at Work
Health and Safety at Work is one of the most important and advanced areas of EU Social Policy with substantial legislation and with programmes of information, guidance and promotion. The extensive EU agenda covers workers' health, safety provisions in respect of equipment, noise, radiation, chemicals and carcinogens etc. Specific groups covered: self-employed; temporary workers; young people at work; pregnant women; fishermen.
Equality for Men and Women
Equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of EU law. The basic rules were set out in the 1974 Social Action Programme introduced by Commission Vice President Patrick Hillery. EU policy includes active measures and gender mainstreaming.
Workers' Rights: Posted, Agency Workers; Social Security Rights; Working Time
The EU has minimum requirements in the field of labour rights and work organisation. There are now over 400 pieces of separate EU legislation in this field. A summary contains references to issues such as collective redundancies, working hours, consultation of workers, equal treatment, parental leave, part-time work and the position of posted and agency workers.
Equal Rights for Mothers and Fathers: parental leave
The right to parental leave for both father and mother is an important element of the Em's social policies. In Ireland this right is given legal status through the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act of 2006.
Environment
Environmental Standards
Environmental initiatives are now at the top of the EU agenda. Beyond protection of threatened aspects of the environment is recognition that a 'green' agenda is essential for economic and social progress. The EU is leading the worldwide drive towards an effective follow-on programme after Kyoto.
Waste Strategy
EU Strategy on Waste and Recycling is making a vital contribution to the quality of life of EU citizens. More than 2 billion tonnes of waste are produced each year - that's 3.5 tonnes for each one of us - and this must be dealt with through waste prevention and reduction, more recycling and more efficient and eco-friendly disposal methods. EU Directives set strict technical and economic guidelines for action in every Member State.
Renewable Energy Sources
EU targets call for a doubling of the share of renewable energy sources by 2010. Policy envisages increasing utilisation of sun, wind and water power; development of relevant technologies with the prospect of employment creation; and introduction of relevant economic and fiscal regimes.
Beach / Water Standards
Since the 1970s the EU has been monitoring bathing water quality. Information is readily available on whether beaches meet strict quality standards. Directives ensure that the most sophisticated science is used to monitor the quality of bathing water.
Promoting Biodiversity
The Natura 2000 initiative seeks to advance the principle of sustainable development. A network of Special Areas of Conservation is designed to protect nearly 200 threatened species and 800 species listed under the Habitats Directive, and covers Special Protection Areas classified under the Birds Directive for some 200 endangered birds and wetlands.
Eco-Label Scheme: product standards for a better environment
The Eco-label was first introduced in 1993. It is the EU flagship brand for products and services which meet certain ecological standards and represent a better choice for the
environment. Organisations are encouraged to publicise the label, promote availability of eco-labelled products and improve consumer awareness of the environment.
Emissions Trading
The European Union Emission Trading Scheme ETS helps fight climate change by developing a commercial approach to the reduction of emissions. Companies are allocating a CO2 allowance that it can emit, established under a national plan and subject to reduction over time. A company exceeding its allowance must buy carbon credits from another enterprise which has emitted less than its own allowance. In the first year, 360 million tonnes of CO2 credits were traded in a market worth Euro 7.2 billion
REACH: keeping hazardous substances out of reach
The REACH policy - registration, evaluation, authorisation of chemicals - provides that European companies must assess and manage any risks arising from the chemicals that they manufacture, import and use. The policy seeks a balance between protection of consumers and opportunities for innovation in the chemical industry.
Protection of the Marine Environment: Pollution Prevention and Control Project
From monitoring fishing catches and threatened marine species and safeguarding fragile coastlines to tackling criminal activity at sea, the EU is a major player at international level. The EU is developing a comprehensive European Maritime policy.
Catalytic Converters
Thanks to catalytic converters, introduced under EU regulations, new cars in Europe emit up to 95% less toxic gas than they did 20 years ago. New technologies are contributing to this important development.
Consumers
European Health Card
The European Union Health Insurance Cardwas introduced in 2004 and can be used in some 30 countries. It helps simplify procedures for getting medical care in another European country. It is totally free and replaces all the old forms such as E111.
Mobile Phone Roaming Charges
Liberalisation of telecommunications markets together with advances in technology have resulted in a steady decrease in prices for EU consumers. Now the EU has taken important steps to reduce roaming charges for citizens moving within the Union.
Food Standards: the whole food chain; 'farm to fork'
The EU is concentrating on making the whole food chain as safe as possible through the 'farm to fork' approach. Producers, processors and importers must ensure their foodstuffs and ingredients can be traced through the food chain. Priority is given to the use of GM organisms, animal welfare and health and nutrition.
Low price Air travel: EU Blacklist of Unsafe Airlines
The EU has provided not only cheaper but safer flights and increased competition between air carriers. Since 1993 the EU, together with neighbouring countries, has become a huge single market for air travel. The European Commission Blacklist of Unsafe Airlines was first published in 2006, naming and shaming operators not meeting international standards.
Public Health Policies: Health Emergency and Disease Information System
The public health issues dealt with by the EU are numerous and cover a number of different areas, concerning men, womenand children. EU provisions cover united responses to potential pandemics, such as avian flu, creating an early-warning system and a 'Health Emergency and Diseases Information System'.
More Choice for Consumers; Consumer Safety
The Internal Market of the EU provides consumers with increasing choice of products and services. Consumer safety is a priority and EU rules are designed to ensure that everyone benefits from the highest level of protection. A rapid information exchange service (RAPEX) has been established to notify consumers of any risks.
Ban on Cosmetic Testing on Animals
The EU bans cosmetic testing on animals. Moves are underway to refine, reduce and replace animal testing wherever possible. The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing has been established.
Pet Passport Scheme
Since 2004 the European pet passport has made it much easier for pets to travel with their owners throughout Europe. The passport gives details of important vaccinations and other relevant medical treatments undergone by the pets.
Quality TV Across Borders
The EU's Television Without Frontiers policy aims at safeguarding the competitiveness of the economically important European TV industry, ensuring Europe's characteristic cultural diversity and protecting consumers from harmful images and advertising.
European Identity on the Internet: the '.eu' identity
The '.eu' domain name has been introduced. This provides a truly European label on the internet for EU companies and extends the protection of EU laws as regards privacy and personal data protection.
Single European Emergency Number - 112
Number 112 is the single European emergency number and in some countries is the only emergency call number. In others, such as Ireland, the traditional 999 number continues with the 112 option. A single number across Europe meets the needs of travellers.
Education
Erasmus Programme for Students: 20 years achievement
Over 1.2 million students have benefited from the ERASMUS Programme which gives them the possibility to experience different national cultures and broaden their personal horizons.
Recognition of Qualifications: Bologna Programme
The Bologna process seeks to create a European Higher Education Area, making it easier for people to move around the continent for study. The process covers 46 countries and builds on the experience of over a million Erasmus students.
Leonardo da Vinci Programme: 20 years of support for vocational training
The Leonardo da Vinci programme - designed to help people across Europe to get access to vocational training - has been running for 20 years and in the past six years has devoted Euro 1.15 billion to fund projects in 33 countries.
