EP-voorzitter Schulz en fractievoorzitters bezoeken Ierland vanwege naderend EU-voorzitterschap (en)

Ahead of the Irish Presidency which begins in January 2013, EP President Martin Schulz i and leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament will be in Dublin on Thursday and Friday to meet the Taoiseach and the Irish government.

On the occasion of the visit President Schulz said:

"The Irish Presidency comes at a crucial time for the European Union, and I have full confidence in the Presidency as it is well-prepared. The European Parliament will work closely with the Irish Presidency to get Europe back on track, be it through banking supervision legislation, adopting an ambitious budget for the Union, or through the implementation of the European Semester. This will be Ireland's seventh Presidency of the European Union and 2013 will also mark Ireland's 40th anniversary in the Union - I have full confidence that Ireland and rest of the EU will return to the path of sustainable growth."

Details of the meeting

President Schulz will meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny i and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore ahead of the Conference of Presidents at 15.15 in Dublin Castle. A press conference is planned for 15.45. At 16.15, the Conference of Presidents will meet the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Irish government.

On Friday, the Conference of Presidents will meet the Speakers of the two Houses of the Irish Parliament, the chairs of political groups and Ireland's Minister for Europe. Later, President Schulz will hold a meeting with the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.