Lisbon Treaty: “The future is ours to choose”

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Department of Foreign Affairs                Press Release

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Lisbon Treaty: “The future is ours to choose”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin T.D., has said the Lisbon Treaty provides a fair, balanced and transparent framework for tackling the major challenges of the new century.

“In a changing world, the Lisbon Treaty gives us the tools we need to tackle the challenges which are beyond the scope of individual states, large or small, Ireland needs Europe ” he said.

The Lisbon Treaty is the first EU Treaty to refer to climate change as part of the Union’s competence on environmental issues.

Speaking on  “Ireland, Lisbon and Climate Change,” he maintained:

“We  need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that climate change present us.  The European Union is without question the world’s leader in urgent action to combat climate change. We need to focus on more knowledge-intensive green technology jobs.”

The Minister advised Irish ‘cleantech’ companies to pool their efforts with partners in Europe.  Irish researchers have access to European funding to the tune of €600 million. The €110 million which the Union is putting up for the electricity inter-connector between Ireland and Wales is part of a wider strategy to bring down energy costs and strengthen energy security.

“The energy sources we use on a day-to-day basis, to generate our electricity, to warm our homes and to power our cars can become cheaper, greener and better secured, if the Lisbon Treaty comes into force,” the Minister said.

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26 July 2009

Press Office