The President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso and the College of Commissioners visited Dublin for meetings with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and members of the Government to discuss working together with the Irish Presidency on its key priorities of delivering stability, jobs and growth for Europe.

Opening a plenary meeting between the Commission and the Government, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste outlined how Ireland plans to tackle issues of concern to all Europeans including youth unemployment, promoting stability through the Banking Union, and driving future growth through the Digital Agenda. The Irish Presidency also reiterated its commitment to work in close cooperation with the European Commission and other institutions, including the European Parliament, to address the major issues currently facing the European Union.

Enda Kenny, Taoiseach, said: "We had excellent meetings with the Commission. We found an enormous amount of common ground in terms of our agenda for stability, jobs and growth in Europe, while President Barroso and his team are very conscious of Ireland’s own recovery story in the context of Europe’s recovery agenda. We look forward to our partnership with them in the coming six months."

(CD)