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Minister Creighton seeks progress on agreement of multi-year EU Budget in the European Parliament
The Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton TD, is in Strasbourg today and tomorrow seeking to make progress on the agreement of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the next 7 year EU budget agreed at the February European Council meeting.
Minister Creighton is engaging in a series of extensive meetings with key MEPs, including the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, ahead of a plenary debate and vote on the Parliament’s position tomorrow. The Minister will represent the Council in the debate.
Minister Creighton will stress the importance of a timely agreement with the European Parliament to support recovery and job creation in the EU and to deliver on critically important areas such as youth unemployment, research and innovation and the Common Agricultural Policy.
“The MFF has a clear focus on jobs and growth and provides a real increase in EU spending for research and development, and for education. The new Youth Employment Initiative will give much-needed assistance to our regions affected by the scourge of youth unemployment. Achieving agreement with the European Parliament is a key priority of the Irish Presidency. This deal is the cornerstone of the drive to secure recovery in Europe.”
“I have been attending the plenary sessions of the Parliament since November 2011 with this goal in mind – building relationships with key players and engaging with a cross-section of MEPs on their concerns and objectives. We will work intensively on negotiations over the coming months with the aim of achieving agreement during our Presidency. I will personally represent the Council at every plenary between now and the end of our Presidency in July.”
While in Strasbourg Minister Creighton will engage with MEPs on how to strengthen the EU’s fight against racism, xenophobia and hate crime and meet the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton as well as attending a lunch in honour of the President of the State Israel Shimon Peres.
She will travel to Brussels for the European Council on Thursday and Friday.