Gilmore outlines EU Presidency priorities

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore says Ireland's priorities for the European Council Presidency can be summed up in three words - stability, jobs and growth.

Eamon Gilmore has been outlining Ireland's aims for the six month presidency, which we assume for the seventh time in January, at a press conference in Brussels.

The Tánaiste says Ireland hopes to build on the agreement made last week on separating banking debt from sovereign debt - as well as tackling youth unemployment and trade agreements with the US.

“We have stabilised our economy and are now in the next phase of recovery, with economic growth restored and increasing trade and investment,” he said.

“Ireland’s priority is to ensure that renewed growth comes with jobs for our people. If our presidency priorities sound similar to this, it is because they are. Europe too needs to move to the next phase of recovery.”

Meanwhile, a new website for the Irish Presidency of the EU has just launched.

The site, eu2013.ie, will be the main resource for breaking news of our Presidency, along with useful background information on the key policy areas politicians will be concentrating on during Ireland's six months as Presidency.