Member of the European Commission - Maroš Sefcovic - Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration

Visit to Ireland: EU careers, financial crisis and ECI on the agenda

Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič begins a two-day visit to Ireland on Thursday where his busy agenda will include meetings with both houses of the Oireachtas, a discussion on the EU response to the crisis and a debate on the forthcoming European Citizens' Initiative.

At the invitation of Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, V-P Šefčovič will attend a meeting of the Oireachtas joint committee on European affairs before taking part with the minister in a presentation of EU careers to student representatives, career advisors and universities.

He will then meet with the leaders of both Houses of the Irish Parliament and with Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Tomorrow's agenda includes a presentation and debate at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin on the community-led response to the financial and economic crisis.

This will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the new European Citizens' Initiative which will come into force on 1 April.

Speech: Address to the Oireachtas Joint Committee

Speech at IIEA: The strength of the community method in tackling the crisis and the role of the Lisbon Treaty