24-25 February 2013

Dublin Castle (view map)

Meeting of Chairpersons of Finance Committees of EU Member States and the European Parliament

Topic: Future strategies for better integration, growth and budgetary control

Finance Committee Chairs consider longer term challenges for the EU

25 February: The Chairs of the Finance Committees from the parliaments of EU Member States today engaged in wideranging discussion with Commissioners, Ministers and leading academics on fostering better integration growth and budgetary control.

Oireachtas Finance Committee Chair Ciaran Lynch TD, who hosted the meeting in Dublin Castle, pointed to the need for Europe to look beyond the shorter term goals of overcoming the current financial challenges. He argued that the longer term goals, such as energy security, reducing youth unemployment and the sustainability of the European social model needed to be central to disussions.

Deputy Lynch says: “I believe that we must continue to ask ourselves, what our overall vision for sustainable growth in Europe is, and how does this underpin and maintain the European standard of living and social model. We have heard today from Commissioner Rehn regarding the Winter Forecast, we have debated the future of the Economic and Monetary Union, and touched on some important proposed technical measures such as bank resolution. We have heard an update on progress under Ireland’s EU-IMF programme, from Minister Noonan.

"We had a stimulating discussion on the role and size of the multiannual EU Budget, and prospects for stimulus within the EU, especially relating to youth unemployment. Finally, we have turned our attention to the role of national parliaments. We as national parliamentarians are crucial to the evolving economic governance of the EU. We are also central to the need to communicate a better and more open European dialogue; to fashion a European philosophy that increasingly delivers a social return. Europe must deliver for all its people.”

Access speeches and YouTube clip of Deputy Lynch reflecting on the debate below. Access photos of the event through the Oireachtas Flickr account. More photos of the event will be available from Maxwells - tel: +353 1 830-8072 or email [email protected]

View a recording of the meeting: