“The Irish Presidency of the EU Council promises to make the EU more competitive, reducing administrative burdens and supporting AI and new technologies.
Ireland became the President of the European Council the first of July and is going to exercise this task till the 31st of December under the rotating Presidency rules of the European Union. In that context, the Irish government has published an ambitious target list putting competitiveness in the center of its goals:
Simplifying rules
Ireland will guide the European Union to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, prioritising a smarter, more coherent regulatory framework. The Presidency believes that this is key to unlocking rapid and efficient development of critical infrastructure, clean and affordable energy, and affordable housing.
More integrated Single Market
The Single Market is the foundation of Europe’s economy and prosperity. The Irish Presidency will work to eliminate barriers, tackle regulatory burdens, boost internal market trade, drive digital transformation and ensure a level playing field for businesses operating across the EU. It will also strive to make it easier for business to start-up and scale seamlessly across the Union.
Championing strong trade
The Presidency will introduce an ambitious trade policy agenda, in order to strengthen the EU’s trade relationships with reliable global partners and diversify its markets. It will also support EU efforts to strengthen economic resilience. Guided by the promote-protect-partner principles that support the Union’s economic security, the Presidency will work to bolster supply chain resilience.
Energy transition
The Presidency will support all efforts to respond to the exceptional energy crisis facing Europe, prioritising work to enhance Europe’s security of supply and the development of sustainable, affordable and secure energy systems. It will also support measures to ensure the protection and resilience of energy infrastructure, and work to accelerate the clean energy transition and phasing out dependence on fossil fuel imports.
Digital/AI
Ireland will seek to strengthen the EU’s capacities in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), and to advance the Union’s positions on responsible digital governance. In an era of transformative technological change, the Presidency plans to convene governments and stakeholders for an AI Summit focussed on harnessing digital and AI opportunities while empowering Europeans to thrive in a digital society. Ireland will also advance work on digital connectivity and digital networks, and focus on investment in subsea telecoms connectivity and the security and resilience of sub-sea cables.
To complement this work, the Presidency will prioritise support for the creation of a more innovation-friendly regulatory and policy environment; advance educational mobility through Erasmus+; and promote investment and reinforcement of resilience in strategic and emerging sectors, including AI, semiconductors, biotechnology and new technologies.
Obviously, the new Presidency is aware that the success of its goals will require all Member States and each institution to work purposefully together in a spirit of cooperation and compromise, in the interests of every citizen and business right across the Union. Not an easy task ….“