I welcome the Minister. He outlined the priorities of the incoming Spanish Presidency, one of which is economic recovery and job creation. I agree with Senator Cummins that this should be a priority for the incoming Presidency. I notice that the issue of the European micro-finance facility for employment and social progress is on the agenda for the general affairs council meeting as is a call for support for the mobilisation of a European globalisation and adjustment fund for several member states. These are very important measures and a co-ordinated European approach to promoting economic recovery throughout member states will be key in the coming years.

At a time when the new EU 2020 strategy is being drawn up there is a sense of optimism and concern that the same fate might await that new strategy as affected the Lisbon strategy which, despite its stated objective to ensure the European economy became the most competitive and dynamic economy internationally, was seen to be largely a failure. Will the Minister reassure us that the new strategy, EU 2020, has a better chance of success? The Lisbon strategy was being implemented at a time when the global economy was prospering and the individual economies of member states were in growth. Should we be any more hopeful that the EU 2020 strategy can be successful at a time when most of the EU member states are in economic recession?

Citizens’ rights and freedoms were mentioned by the incoming Presidency as a priority. I notice the European Parliament asked the Council to engage in inter-institutional dialogue on the new legal framework required for access to documents, which is very close to the heart of many citizens. The Lisbon treaty changed the situation by broadening the scope of the requirement for access to documents to include the European Council, the European Central Bank, the European Court of Justice, Europol and Eurojust. There is a short timeframe within which the new regulations on access to documents have to be drawn up and the European Parliament is seeking immediate inter-institutional dialogue on this, particularly on the principles that will surround any restrictions on access to documents. Will the Minister, Deputy Martin, and the Government support this immediate inter-institutional dialogue?

The Minister mentioned the situation in Haiti and it is true that there has been a strong international response, albeit a little belated. The United States is seen as playing a very strong role in this. Unfortunately, the European Union has not been mentioned and there has been no strong European response while individual member states are doing their very best and the Irish Government has made its contribution to the relief and humanitarian effort. Does the Minister feel there is need to operationalise some of the new provisions of the Lisbon treaty, particularly with regard to the formation of the EU voluntary humanitarian aid corps? In a future humanitarian crisis it would be very welcome to see the European Union being able to mobilise the same type of civilian resources as the US and other major powers. What steps can be taken in this regard?

The committee has organised a meeting with a number of Irish MEPs tomorrow to discuss the citizen’s initiative. A public consultation process is in train on this at present. Will the Department play a role in raising public awareness about the citizen’s initiative and seek public input into its design and workings?

Senator Déirdre de Búrca:  I raised the question of access to documents requested by the European Parliament. What will the Minister do in respect of this matter?

Deputy Micheál Martin:  We will examine that in terms of the European Parliament. Certainly, we support inter-institutional dialogue in terms of access to documents.

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Joint Committee on European Affairs by Deirdre