merrion street

Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy, TD today attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels, where he met with fellow Europe Ministers for discussions on migration and priorities for economic policy coordination between Member States in 2016, under the European Semester process. EU leaders will address both issues at this week’s European Council summit, which begins on Thursday.
At the Council meeting, Ministers adopted a regulation on emergency support within the Union to assist Member States, and Greece in particular, with the difficult humanitarian situation caused by the refugee crisis.
Speaking in Brussels after the meeting, Minister Murphy spoke about the migration crisis. He said:
“The migration crisis remains a huge challenge for the European Union – one that requires collective action, solidarity and a comprehensive approach. We need to see much faster progress on the implementation of measures that have already been agreed upon by Member States, as part of the coherent and genuinely EU-wide response that is required.”
“We are seeing progress in some areas, and I welcome the adoption by the Council at today’s meeting of a regulation to provide emergency support within the EU. Ireland fully supports this new measure which will assist Greece with the difficult humanitarian situation facing it. We are all aware of the huge demands and pressure that this crisis is placing on our partners and neighbouring states. Ireland is showing and will continue to show solidarity.”
“EU leaders will revisit the proposed agreement with Turkey when they meet later this week. In Ireland's view, there are potential positives in the proposed agreement, especially its focus on resettlement. However, it is important that what is agreed is consistent with international humanitarian law and human rights. We have also reiterated our concerns in relation to fundamental freedoms; these are core EU values and must be upheld. Any EU agreement with Turkey must not gloss over these."
On the 2016 priorities for economic policy coordination within the EU, Minister Murphy stated:
“Ireland strongly supports the renewed focus on progressing both the Single Market and Digital Single Market strategies. We need to maintain momentum and achieve real and substantive progress in these areas to enable the EU to reap the rewards in terms of jobs and growth opportunities."
“Member States will receive country-specific recommendations for the 2016 cycle of economic policy coordination in June. Following last year's recommendations made to Ireland, progress has been made to increase the cost-effectiveness of the healthcare system, which has been acknowledged, and we remain on track to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure this year.”