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On 1 July 2011, Poland assumed the presidency of the EU, taking over from Hungary. For six months, the main task of the country which holds the presidency is to organise and manage the work of the Council of the European Union where the member states are represented.
Poland and the next two successive Council presidency countries known as the Presidency Trio, have drawn up a work programme for the 18-month period (January 2010 to July 2011) during which they will hold the Presidency in succession, according to the new regulations which apply in Europe.
The current (2011–2012) trio consists of Poland, Belgium (who will take over in January 2012) and Cyprus (who will take over in July 2012)..
Previous Meetings
Thursday 16th April
The JCEA had a discussion on the human rights situation in Colombia and the impact on the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Colombia with Mr Juan Andrés Cambindo Cuenu. Items also on the agenda were the Draft Contribution to the Commission on the Green Paper “Towards a Secure, Sustainable and Competitive European Energy Network”, COM (2008)782 and a Report on comments submitted to the European Commission by the Joint Committee on European Affairs on the Report of the High Level Expert Group on Financial supervision in the EU
Thursday 9th April
The Committee was given a presentation by Mairead McGuinness MEP & Rapporteur on her report, The Common Agricultural Policy and Global Food Security. Members also held a discussion with Mr Sean Power TD, Minister of State, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on Ireland’s Eel Management Plan
Tuesday 31st March
Representatives of the Department of Finance gave the Joint Committee a presentation on the Report of the High Level Working Group on EU Financial Supervision
Thursday 19th March
The JCEA met with Representatives of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eirgrid, Bord Gáis Networks, Gaslink Independent Systems Ltdfor a discussion on the EU Green Paper: Towards a Secure, Sustainable and Competitive European Energy Network
March 12th March
The Joint Committee held a Discussion on the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Thursday 26th February
Commissioner Gunter Verheugenmet with the committee to discuss The EU Strategy for growth and jobs
Thursday 19th February
Members held a discussion with Mr. Dick Roche, Minister of State for European Affairs, in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Committee also heard a Presentation on the work of Euro Carers from Ms Brigid Barron, Founding President of Euro Carers.
Thursday 12th February
The JCEA met with Eel Representatives from the Regional Fishery Boards and Eel Fishermen’s Associations to discuss Ireland’s Eel management Plans.
Thursday 5th February
The Joint Committee held a discussion with H.E. Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak on Croatia’s negotiation on accession to the European Union
Tuesday 27th January 2009
The Joint Committee met to discuss and examine The European Commission's Legislative Work Programme 2009, the European Commission Green Paper, 'Towards a Secure, Sustainable and Competitive European Energy Network, COM (2008)782' and the European Commission Green Paper on the European Workforce for Health, COM (2008)725
Tuesday 20th January 2009
Members met with Minister Micheál Martin for a discussion in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The JCEA also held a debate on the EU/Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with Dr. Hikmat Ajjuri, Delegate General, Palestinian General Delegation
Thursday 15th January 2009
The Joint Committee met with representatives of the IFA, ICSA, ICMSA and FDII to resume previous discussion on the European Commission Green Paper on agricultural product quality: product standards, farming requirements and quality schemes. Motions on the EU / Israel Association Agreement and the Situation in Gaza were agreed and reports were laid before both Houses
Thursday 8th December
The JCEA met with Representatives of the Department of Communication, Energy and Natural Resources to analyse Ireland’s Eel Management Plan
Thursday 11th December
The Joint Committee met with representatives from the Department of Agriculture to discuss the European Commission Green Paper on agricultural product quality: product standards, farming requirements and quality schemes.
The JCEA also held a discussion on the priorities for the Czech Republic’s Presidency of the EU with H.E. Mr Tomas Kafka,Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ireland
Tuesday 2nd December
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D. briefed the Joint Committee on items for discussion and decision on the agenda for the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting
Thursday 27th November
The Joint Committee discussed the Report of the Sub-Committee on Ireland’s future in the European Union
Tuesday 11th November 2008
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with Mr Kurt Basseneur, Democratization Policy Council to discuss, 'The current situation in Bosnia and positive actions that could be taken by the EU'
Wednesday 5th November 2008
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with Minister Micheál Martin for a discussion in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council
Tuesday 28th October 2008
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with representatives of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to discuss the Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy and hosted a briefing session on Lisbon Agenda for Growth and Jobs (including Ireland's National Reform Programme 2008-2010) with representatives of the Departments of An Taoiseach, Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment
Tuesday 21st October 2008
The JCEA had an exchange of views with a German Parliamentary Delegation, on the work of the Joint Committee and the European Union’s response to the current financial crisis.
Tuesday 7th October 2008
The Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., briefed the Joint Committee on items for discussion and decision on the agenda for the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.
Wednesday 24th September 2008
The JCEA met to agree on the Committee's Contribution to the European Commission, on the Commission White Paper on the Integration of EU Mortgage Credit Markets.
Tuesday 9th September 2008
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with Minister Micheál Martin for a discussion in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
Tuesday 29th July 2008
The Committee had an exchange of views about the Lisbon Reform Treaty with Maurice Hayes (Chairman of the National Forum on Europe) and resumed its discussion on The Commission White Paper on the Integration of EU Mortgage Credit Markets with representatives of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Irish Banking Federation.
Wednesday 23rd July 2008
The Committee met with representatives of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Irish Banking Federation and Financial Services Ireland to discuss The Commission White Paper on the Integration of EU Mortgage Credit Markets, Com (2007) 807.
Tuesday 15th July 2008
Members of the JCEA held a discussion with Minister Micheál Martin in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
Tuesday 8th July 2008
The Committee held discussions on the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries, with representatives of the Trade Matters Group, (Trocaire and Oxfam). Also on the agenda was the European Union’s Association Agreement with the Andean Community with representatives of the Latin American Solidarity Centre.
Thursday 3rd July 2008
The JCEA and JCES held a Joint Meeting to discuss the implications of the result of the Referendum on the Lisbon Reform Treaty with Minister Micheál Martin.
Tuesday 1st July 2008
The Committee considered the priorities of the French EU Council Presidency and the 18 month Programme of the French, Czech and Swedish Presidencies
Tuesday 17th June 2008
The Committee discussed the outcome of the constitutional referendum on the Lisbon Reform Treaty.
Wednesday 4th June 2008
The Lisbon Reform Treaty and the WTO negotiations were on the agenda for the meeting with representatives of the IFA Read More...
The Lisbon Reform Treaty
Thursday 29th May 2008
Publication of report and Press Conference
The Joint Committee published its final report on the Lisbon Reform Treaty. The Report derives from a series of meetings which the Committee held both in Leinster House and at various venues throughout the country in recent months. These were designed both to enable its Members to hear the views of the general public on the contents and import of the Treaty and to stimulate public debate prior to the Referendum on June 12. Read more>>
Tuesday 27th May 2008
The Committee discussed the implications of the Lisbon Reform Treaty for the EU's development cooperation policy with representatives of Trócaire, Concern, and Dóchas Read More...
Tuesday 20th May 2008
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin T.D., and the Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power T.D., briefed the Joint Committee on the items for discussion and decision on the agenda of the forthcoming GAERC meeting.
Tuesday 13th May 2008
The Joint Committee on European Affairs continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Reform Treaty when it met with representatives of Irish Alliance for Europe. Read More...
Tuesday 29th April 2008
The Joint Committee discussed the implications of the Lisbon Reform Treaty with Irish MEPs. Read More...
23rd April 2008
The Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., briefed the Joint Committee on items for discussion and decision on the agenda for the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting.
Tuesday 8th April
The Committee continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Reform Treaty with the participation from voteno.ie, PANA and the Peoples Movement. Read More...
Tuesday 11 March 2008
Lisbon Reform Treaty: The Committee continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Reform Treaty with the participation of representatives of the Union of Students and the Irish Countrywomen's Association. Read More...
Wednesday 5th March: The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern exchanges views with the Joint Committee on the agenda of a forth coming GAERC meeting. Read More...
28 February the Joint Committee met with Vice-President of the European Commission Margot Wallström, who has responsibility for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy. Read More...
Cooperation between the European Commission and National Parliaments On Thursday 28 February the Joint Committee met with Vice-President of the European Commission Margot Wallström, who has responsibility for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy. Read More...
Tuesday 19th February: The Joint Committee on European Affairs continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Treaty when it met with the Represenatives from the IFA , Read More...
Tuesday 12th February:The Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche exchanges views with the Joint Committee on the agenda of a forth coming GAERC meeting.
Tuesday 5th February: The Joint Committee on European Affairs continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Treaty when it met with the Slovenian Ambassador to Ireland, HE Mag Franc Mikša Read More...
Tuesday 29th January: The Joint Committee on European Affairs continued its series of meetings on the Lisbon Treaty when it met with representatives from ICOS and ICMSA. Read More...
Tuesday 22 January: The Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D, briefed the Joint Committee on the items for discussion and decision on the agenda of the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting. Read More...
The Joint Committee met representatives of ISME and Chambers Ireland on Thursday 17th January to discuss The Lisbon Treaty.Read More...
The Joint Committee met social partners IBEC and ICTU on Thursday 17th January to discuss The Lisbon Treaty. Read More...
The Minister for Foreign Affairs discussed the EU Reform Treaty and the Agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting. Read More...
The Joint Committee on European Affairs held a press conference at 12.00 Noon on Thursday, December 13, to announce details of a regional tour it will undertake in the New Year in relation to the Lisbon Treaty on EU reform. Learn More...