Banen en groei centraal bij komend Iers voorzitterschap (en)

BRUSSELS - The incoming Irish EU presidency says it will focus on jobs and growth in the next six months, echoing claims that the sovereign debt part of the euro crisis has ended.

Foreign minister Eamonn Gilmore told press in Brussels on Monday (17 December) there is still work to do on the banking union agreed by EU leaders last week as a long-term measure to quell market fears on the future of the euro.

He said Ireland will work on a pan-EU deposit guarantee scheme and failed bank wind-up procedures as the "key to moving to the next phase - allowing the European Stability Mechanism [the Luxembourg-based bailout fund] to directly recapitalise banks."

He also said it will make sure the European semester - joint economic governance laws - "are working effectively."

But he noted that Ireland's main objectives - and its EU presidency motto - will be "stability, jobs and growth."

Part of its push to get the European economy back on its feet will involve getting agreement on a new EU budget for 2014 to 2020 "early in the New Year" to enable "fit for purpose" spending on aid to rural regions and EU student exchange programmes.

It will work to clinch an EU-US free trade deal, which Dublin believes will contribute 2 percent growth in EU GDP once it is place.

"I discussed this recently with US secretary of state Hilary Clinton and I know this is a priority for us as well," Gilmore said.

Other pro-growth initiatives include a directive on pan-EU recognition of professional qualifications to help job seekers chase opportunities around the Union.

There is also to be a new package to help small businesses get access to credit and an "overhaul" of EU data protection rules to help online companies make hay in the single market.

Striking an optimistic note, Gilmore said: "We aim to be the first country to emerge from an EU-IMF [International Monetary Fund] programme."

He added that upcoming elections in Germany and Italy should not hold back EU decision-making: "I don't expect that elections in Italy will dely the MFF [the multi-annual financial framework, or 2014 to 2020 EU budget."

His EU affairs minister, Lucinda Creighton, said: "For the past 18 months saying, whenever something complex comes on the agenda we hear the refrain: 'No decision can be expected because of elections here or there.' But in fact decision-making has not been put on hold."

The Irish tone echoes remarks by EU leaders at the summit last week.

"That period is over ... We did a lot of good work this year and that allows us to be confident for 2013," French President Francois Hollande said in Brussels last Thursday, referring to sovereign debt fears.

Meanwhile, Ireland outlined more modest priorities for EU foreign policy in the coming months.

Creighton said it will try to get EU accession talks started with Macedonia and Serbia and to get agreement for signing a pre-accession pact with quasi-state Kosovo.

Gilmore added that Ireland will also focus on expanding EU humanitarian aid programmes around the world and redefining UN global development goals.

He said nothing on two of the biggest crises in the EU neighbourhood, however - the Arab-Israel conflict and Syria.

With Israel piling on thousands of new settler homes in Palestine in a growing threat to the EU-backed "two-state solution" - it announced on Monday that a further 1,500 settler homes will be built in East Jerusalem - Ireland has no plans to push for punitive measures.

An Irish government spokeswoman told EUobserver last month that "Ireland would support a ban on the import of goods from Israeli settlements."

But she noted: "There is no consensus on this issue at EU level and no prospect of reaching agreement on this issue in the near term."

She also added that under the Lisbon Treaty: "The foreign council agenda is set by the EU [foreign policy chief] Catherine Ashton."