An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Dublin during November 29—December 2, 2016, for the sixth post-program monitoring discussions—part of the IMF’s regular surveillance of countries with significant IMF credit outstanding. The mission was coordinated with the European Commission and the European Central Bank. At the end of the visit, the mission issued the following statement: The Irish economy is growing at a healthy pace, but remains subject to downside risks. Commendable progress has been achieved through a long and...

Washington, D.C. – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today welcomed the release of the Joint Strategic Plan by the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. This Plan is a product of an intensive effort by the Obama Administration to ensure that the works of American creators and innovators are protected from infringement and misappropriation. USTR pursues this agenda on a global scale. “The United States is the world’s most innovative economy, with new ideas and creative...

New rules to help EU countries open up their rail transport markets and improve their competitiveness are debated by MEPs on Monday evening and voted on Wednesday. The new legislation should help to make travelling by rail cheaper and more attractive. Check out our infographic to find out more about Europe's railway sector and follow the debate live online.     MEPs are set to debate and vote on a series of measures to improve rail travel in the EU as part...

Today I am talking trade with European farmers, following my helpful discussion last week with the European Parliament's agriculture committee on the global opportunities for that sector. And tomorrow, I'm taking part in the Joint Ministerial Trade Council of the EU and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States. So, today, a long blog post on what EU trade policy means for farmers – those who produce and process the food we eat and export. (Also, today's speech to...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement on today’s release of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity’s (Commission) Report on Securing and Growing the Digital Economy.  “Our society faces a moment of reckoning regarding the security of the networks and devices we depend on in our lives and our work,” said Secretary Pritzker. Today’s report provides a path forward for government, the commercial sector, consumers, and educators to address the challenges before us. The Commission’s recommendations emphasize...

Today, President Juncker gave a speech to students on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty. He spoke of the Treaty's achievements and called for more unity, structured cooperation and defence of our common achievements in the future. Today European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker gave a speech to students at the University of Maastricht on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty. He spoke of the Treaty's achievements in creating the Economic and Monetary Union. Looking...

Good morning to all of you. I am very happy to be here with you today for a short press briefing. My goal today is to explain what we have done so far, and the spirit in which the Commission prepares itself. All of you will understand that it is too soon to talk today about the details of Brexit. At the end of July, President Juncker appointed me as the Commission's Chief Negotiator for the preparation and conduct of the negotiations with...