Eerste vergadering ECOFIN onder Iers voorzitterschap staat in teken van groei (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Iers voorzitterschap Europese Unie eerste helft 2013 i, gepubliceerd op maandag 21 januari 2013.

Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan will chair the first meeting of Ireland’s presidency of the ECOFIN in Brussels on Tuesday 22nd of January and will present to his colleague Ireland’s ambitious programme. The Irish Presidency will focus on promoting stability, growth and jobs in Europe and the ECOFIN has a central role to play in this, progressing key dossiers in the Financial Services, Taxation and the Economic areas. Issues of key importance to Europe and her citizens will be progressed in an effective and impartial manner and Minister will promote debate on the growth agenda.

The Irish Presidency of the ECOFIN council will commence on the 22nd of January and Irish Finance Minister and ECOFIN Council President Mr. Michael Noonan T.D. will present Ireland’s ambitious Presidency Programme. Throughout the course of the 6 month Presidency Ireland will focus on promoting Stability, Growth and Job Creation across Europe and the ECOFIN has a central role in driving this agenda.

The Irish Presidency of the ECOFIN council presents an excellent opportunity for Ireland to promote economic stability, growth and jobs in Europe. Ireland, with the cooperation and agreement of our European colleagues will aim to progress key dossiers in the areas of Banking Union, Financial Services, Taxation and Economic Governance. (Noonan)

The meeting will include a discussion on key parts of the growth agenda, in particular a discussion on the Annual Growth Survey, which signals the start of the European Semester. The Presidency will circulate a document to the Council to promote discussion around the Annual Growth Survey in support of its work in promoting the growth agenda.

As Chair of the ECOFIN, I will be continuing on Ireland’s strong tradition of running effective and impartial Presidencies and we will aim to advance issues in the best interest of the entire European Union. (Noonan)

Minister Noonan will chair a discussion on the procedure to move forward, on an enhanced cooperation basis, the Financial Transaction Tax. While Ireland as a member state will not be one of the participating counties we are committed, in our role as President, to support and help the participating member states and to act as an honest and impartial broker in the discussions.

The meeting will also include:

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    an update from the Presidency on financial services dossiers (CRD IV and banking supervision mechanism) and economic surveillance measures (“two pack”)
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    an exchange of views in the follow-up to the European Council meeting of 13-14 December 2012 on the future of the EMU in ECOFIN
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    a presentation from the Commission on an action plan to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion.

Today’s Ecofin meeting is the first council meeting of Ireland’s six month presidency of the ECOFIN and I am confident that we will make progress today on promoting the economic growth and jobs agenda in the European Union. We are also expecting to take a decision to move forward, on an enhanced cooperation basis, the Financial Transaction Tax. (Noonan)

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