Minister Murphy meets EU counterparts for discussions on migration and economic priorities
Minister of State for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy T.D., today joined fellow Europe Ministers for a meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels. The migration challenge, security issues, and economic priorities, including the Digital Single Market and TTIP, were the focus of discussions at the meeting, which laid the groundwork for next month’s European Council summit.
On the migration and the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, Minister Murphy welcomed the solidarity shown by Member States thus far, recalling that Ireland was committed to resettling a total of 520 vulnerable people for the 2015/16 period. The allocation of additional funds, bringing Ireland’s total humanitarian assistance to support those affected to €41m over four years, and the deployment of a naval vessel to help with search and rescue and humanitarian operations, were also central to Ireland’s response, the Minister said.
Speaking after the General Affairs Council meeting, Minister Murphy said:
“Ireland is supportive of a collective European approach to addressing the migration challenge and humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. The issues at stake here – underdevelopment, migratory pressures and organised crime – are all interlinked and demand a comprehensive and coherent response. The Commission’s Roadmap and European Agenda on Migration provide an important framework for future action.”
Minister Murphy also emphasised that achieving a Digital Single Market and reaching agreement on TTIP should be high on Europe’s economic priorities, saying:
“Ireland supports a high level of ambition for a fully functioning Digital Single Market that is both open and competitive. This is a win-win proposition for both consumers and SMEs. If we get it right, the Digital Single Market can undoubtedly become a key driver of a stronger economic outlook across Europe.”
“It is important that next month’s European Council keeps up the momentum for the swift conclusion of an agreement on TTIP. Europe must seize this opportunity to agree a comprehensive EU-US Trade deal that will be good for citizens, workers and consumers.”