(Vatican Radio) Ireland took over the rotating presidency of the European Union on
January 1st. As Michael Kelly reports from the capital, Dublin, it comes
at one of the most turbulent times for the Union.
The flags of the 27 EU
member states are fluttering all along the banks of the river Liffey in the Irish
capital. However, the festive atmosphere which is marking Irelands assumption of the
presidency can’t hide the gloom about the European economy. The EU has more than
500 million citizens across the 27 countries, making it one of the largest trading
blocks in the world. The achievements have been momentous: A fact attested to this
year by the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. In recent decades the EU has manages
the collapse of the Berlin Wall, German reunification and the integration of ten new
– mostly former Soviet-Bloc – member states.
But the great monetary project
– the single European currency – has proved to be a headache for leaders. Many countries,
Ireland included, are burdened by heavy debts brought about by a banking crisis. These
debts threaten the very stability of the currency. Political leaders have been grappling
for five years for a solution with little success.
Ireland’s priorities over
the next six months are clear: Stability, jobs and growth. All of which have eluded
large parts of the EU while others prosper.
If anything, a two tier Europe
appears to be emerging. Heavily indebted countries like Italy, Portugal, Greece, Spain
and Ireland are struggling with high rates of unemployment.
On the other hand,
other countries are doing much better. In Germany, for example, unemployment is at
its lowest rate since reunification in 1990.
In her New Year’s message, the
German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, warned that 2013 will be “even more difficult” economically.
Germany
– Europe’s largest economy– has been the paymaster in the Eurozone crisis, a move
unpopular with many German voters.
But Irish leaders are optimistic. The Prime
Minister, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny told reporters he is confident of a more prosperous
E.U. in 2013.