Ireland and the European Union: Identifying Priorities and Pursuing Goals 4th Edition 2006

Forward

While the past year was a period of reflection, this did not mean that business in the EU came to a standstill. On the contrary, there has been a strong determination to push ahead with the EU's agenda and not to allow the setback over the European Constitution to derail progress.

In December last year European Council reached agreement on the Financial Perspectives for the EU for the years 2007 - 2013. The new Perspectives, which have since been agreed with the European Parliament, protect the interests of each Member State and allow the EU to move forward on a sound financial basis. They provide for 2862.36 billion for the years 2007-2013.

From Ireland's perspective, the overall result was excellent. We expect that over the seven years covered by the Perspectives, our receipts from the EU will amount to 214 billion while our payments will be 213 billion, leaving us with a net benefit of 21billion. We anticipate that we will become a net contributor to the EU budget near the end of the seven-year period. This gradual move to net contributor status is consistent with our deep national commitment to the EU and the very rapid economic progress that EU membership has made possible.

In many respects the agreement on the Financial Perspectives is the last major building block in the current enlargement process. Bulgaria and Romania will soon become full members of the European Union. Accession negotiations have opened with Turkey and Croatia. Candidate status has been granted to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Next year, 2007, marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. This will be a moment to acknowledge the enormous contribution the EU has made to the preservation of peace and the promotion of economic and social progress on our continent. It will also be a time to recognise the fundamental importance of EU membership to Ireland's economic success and social progress. There is hardly an area of economic or social life in Ireland that has not benefited from our membership.

The EU continues to be of vital importance to us. The objective of these annual publications is to explain, in clear and straightforward terms, the agenda we are pursuing in the EU and the importance of the EU to our economy and our society.

This 4th Edition of Ireland and the European Union: Identifying Priorities and Pursuing Goals sets out our key national objectives in the European Union for the coming period. It highlights the key issues facing us in the coming months.

We will continue to ensure that we promote Ireland's interests while, at the same time, ensuring that the interests of the European Union as a whole are met.

Bertie Ahern T.D. Taoiseach

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