Gilmore tells EU to focus on growth, not EC chief

The EU should stop obsessing about who becomes head of the European Commission and focus more on promoting growth and engaging with the electorate, according to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

Speaking at an Ireland- France Chamber of Commerce event, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said the recent European Parliament elections showed that Europe was seen as “part of the problem rather than part of the solution”.

“For that reason, frankly there is perhaps a little too much obsession with the current top jobs issue in the union. Its future leadership is important, of course, but it is one step of many,” said Mr Gilmore.