From 1 January until 30 June 2013, Ireland holds the EU Presidency and will thus chair many of the discussions and negotiations held at EU level. Ireland will have a strong input into the agenda and priorities of the EU, including the Development Agenda, and indicated that development cooperation is among the priorities for the Presidency. Minister of State for Trade and Development, Mr. Joe Costello, focused in his speech before the European Parliament Committee on Development on 22 January mainly on humanitarian aid and relief in crisis situations.
SOLIDAR welcomes the emphasis Mr. Costello put on the EU role in the urgent humanitarian crises in Mali, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but warns at the same time that now is the moment to shape the framework for international development after 2015, the target date for the Millennium Development Goals. Ireland has an important responsibility in the discussions on the development of the post-2015 Agenda.
The Irish Presidency together with the EU High Representative on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will host an Informal Meeting of EU Development Ministers on 11 and 12 February, providing an opportunity for substantive discussion on major development and humanitarian issues by EU Development Ministers. The EU will need to agree its common position regarding the post-2015 framework before the September UN General Assembly meeting so that all EU countries can speak with a single, powerful and unified voice.