The Irish Presidency of the EU Council will prioritise “stability, jobs and growth,” Ireland’s Ambassador to Malta Jim Hennessy said this morning.

Mr Hennessy set out in detail the legislative and other priorities that Ireland will be pushing for Europe over the next six months.

Ireland will push for a swift conclusion to negotiations for EU budget –multiannual financial framework (MFF) – for 2014-2020, Mr Hennessy said.

“I promise we will leave stone unturned to get a deal that is acceptable to all parties,” Mr Hennessy said.

The Irish Presidency is also aiming for agreement on Horizon 2020, the EU framework programme for research and innovation.

“Malta is very well placed to prosper from Horizon 2020,” the Ambassador said.

Ireland will also place a strong emphasis on securing agreement on Cohesion Funds and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Cohesion Funds were instrumental in helping the Irish economy to grow after it joined the then European Economic Community in 1973, the Ambassador said, recognising their importance to smaller economies.     

He was speaking at a public dialogue on the Irish Presidency organised by the Embassy and the Malta-EU steering and action committee (MEUSAC) at Europe House in Valletta.

Foreign Minister Francis Zammit Dimech was over an hour late for the dialogue because of a Cabinet meeting.

Dr Zammit Dimech expressed his apologies as he eventually joined Mr Hennessy and Meusec head Vanni Xuereb at the front of the room.

The Foreign Minister reiterated the Maltese Government’s opposition to a financial transaction tax (FTT) in the EU, unless the tax was introduced globally.

He also said that Malta felt that if the FTT was adopted by just some EU member states, it would create distortion in the internal market.

“However, we will not stand in the way of those member states who want enhanced co-operation in this field,” he said.

Dr Zammit Dimech expressed confidence in the Irish presidency.

"I know we are in good hands," he said.