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EU Irish Presidency – Priorities and Cultural Events

On January 1, 2013, Ireland assumed the rotating six-month presidency of the EU. What this means is that for the first half of 2013, Ireland occupies a leadership position that brings with it the opportunity to promote an EU policy agenda and help make it happen.

The Presidency chairs meetingsat every level of the Council of the EU (one of the Union’s principal legislators), proposes guidelines, and formulates compromises necessary for the Council to reach decisions. The one exception to this Presidency chairmanship is the Foreign Affairs Council, which is always chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Catherine Ashton.

The Irish Presidency’s program for the first half of 2013 is entitled “For Stability, Jobs, and Growth”, and according to Enda Kenny T.D., Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland), it concerns “a recovery country leading recovery in Europe.”

For Irish cultural events in Washington D.C. and environs, take a look at the Irish Embassy’s cultural newsletter.

For more information please click here.