Article states that "Since 1973 exports have grown from a relatively small €1.3 billion to €154 billion last year. Our biggest customer is Europe taking 47 per cent of all our exports. The ‘Four Freedoms’ which are the primary focus of the EU, has been at the root of our export growth." From PAI Journal.
Article states that "Since 1973 exports have grown from a relatively small €1.3 billion to €154 billion last year. Our biggest customer is Europe taking 47 per cent of all our exports. The ‘Four Freedoms’ which are the primary focus of the EU, has been at the root of our export growth." From PAI Journal.
Article states that "Since 1973 exports have grown from a relatively small €1.3 billion to €154 billion last year. Our biggest customer is Europe taking 47 per cent of all our exports. The ‘Four Freedoms’ which are the primary focus of the EU, has been at the root of our export growth." From PAI Journal.
John F. Whelan argues that the Lisbon Treaty is a new deal for Europe Looking back over the past 36 years, services of general interest, research, the EU is not the same institution space, territorial cohesion, commercial Ireland joined back in 1973. Then, it policy, humanitarian aid, sport, tourism was a rather small club with institutions and administrative cooperation. • Withdrawal from the Union: the Treaty and electoral systems designed for a of Lisbon explicitly recognises for the league of nine connected countries. first time the possibility for a Member Each country still maintained its own State to withdraw from the EU. currency, trading rules, immigration rules and agricultural policies. Should Ireland withdraw from However, the EU and its member states and citizens have accepted the need for John F, Whelan the European Union? A further ’no’ vote on October 2 would change over the decades since then in the • A more efficient Europe, with simplified A further ’no’ vote on October 2 would pursuit of better living standards, better working methods and voting rules, bring this into consideration. The many security of employment, easier trading and streamlined and modern institutions for benefits Ireland has derived from EU freedom of movement of people, goods an EU of 27 members and an improved membership need to be fully appreciated and services, and capital. ability to act in areas of major priority when considering whether Ireland should Each significant change required big for today’s Union. withdraw from the EU. And of course for compromises by member states. Perhaps • Effective and efficient decision making: each benefit there is some compromise and the most remarkable one was that taken qualified majority voting in the Council loss of sovereignty, we need to weigh up 17 years ago when Ireland and ten of our will be extended to new policy areas to the costs and the benefits and decide. European neighbours officially accepted make decision making faster and more Since 1973 exports have grown from the idea of a common currency. efficient. a relatively small €1.3 billion to €154 The last decade, and the current period • A more stable and streamlined billion last year. Our biggest customer of unprecedented economic recession and institutional framework: the Treaty of is Europe taking 47 per cent of all our very high instability in stock markets, Lisbon creates the function of President exports. The ‘Four Freedoms’ which are has demonstrated the robust nature of the of the European Council elected for the primary focus of the EU, has been at the monetary Union and the many benefits for two and a half years, introduces a root of our export growth. The freedom of both countries and businesses in the Euro direct link between the election of the movement of goods has ensured tariff free area. Commission President and the results movement of our exports across Europe. The single currency has led to an of the European elections, provides The freedom of movement of services increase in price transparency which for new arrangements for the future will enable our services exports to take a has helped Irish exporters targeting EU composition of the European Parliament major leap forward, when the EC services markets. It has also eliminated exchange and includes clearer rules on enhanced directive comes into effect across the EU rate risk for a large part of our trade and cooperation and financial provisions. on January 1 2010. reduced international transaction costs. • The Treaty of Lisbon improves the The freedom of movement of capital It is in the current harsh economic and EU’s ability to act in several policy has already supported Irish industry with financial environment, that the benefits to areas of major priority for today’s major investments from the UK, Germany a small open economy of being in a large Union and its citizens. This is the case and France over the past three decades. single currency area are most clear. The in particular for the policy areas of And the freedom of movement of people old ‘Punt’ would have suffered dramatic freedom, security and justice, such as has been at the heart of the Celtic Tiger volatility in the current environment with combating terrorism or tackling crime. phenomenon, providing the staffing at all consequent damage to our export industry, It also addresses to some extent other levels of competence to support our rapid which despite the global recession is areas including energy policy, public growth. trading relatively well, when compared to health, civil protection, climate change, If Ireland was less dependent on other countries. exports and had a larger domestic market, A bold step was taken back in 1999, with then the issue of withdrawing from the EU potential consequences far greater than that at stake in the Referendum being held “Since 1973 exports have grown would perhaps be worth considering. For example. the UK economy exports 26 per on October 2 on the Treaty of Lisbon. from a relatively small €1.3 cent of its manufactured goods, it could billion to €154 billion last year. consider exiting and still be likely to be Why does Europe need the able to sustain its economy, and similarly Treaty of Lisbon? Our biggest customer is Europe for most EU countries. But the Irish The EU has moved from a grouping of 15 economy is one of the highest dependents countries to 27 over the past five years. taking 47 per cent of all our on exports globally, selling 80 per cent of The current EU and EC treaties need to its goods and services abroad. Withdrawal be updated with simplified systems and exports. The ‘Four Freedoms’ from the EU would be catastrophic for streamlining of the many institutions to which are the primary focus of the Ireland, sending the economy into terminal enable the larger 27 member EU structure decline. to function efficiency. EU, has been at the root of our The Lisbon Treaty is a new deal for John F. Whelan is CEO of the Irish Europe for the following reasons: export growth.” Exporters Association