IRELAND will give priority to the issues of drugs and employment during its Presidency as these are the problems "that the people of Europe want to see tackled," the Tanaiste, Mr Spring said.
Promising an efficient and effective presidential term, he went on: "The public are going to want to see action on employment, drugs and international crime." The Irish Presidency would support the insertion of an employment chapter into the EU Treaties, he said, a move advocated strongly by the Commission President, Mr Jacques Santer.
The Intergovernmental Conference would "place heavy demands on Irish Ministers and officials, but it is of vital importance to the future of Europe. We are now moving to a new phase in the IGC, and the expectation is that we will increase in momentum ... we will be doing all in our power to do that."
Ireland was "a small member state that can take pride in our achievements. We can put ourselves forward as an example of how to implement the policies necessary for Economic and Monetary Union."
In external relations, relations with the central and east European states would be a major priority, he said.
"During the Presidency we hope to make progress on enlargement, the Middle East peace process, peace and stability in the former Yugoslavia and improving relations with Russia."