EU can be engine of trade - Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the opportunities to work out a path to growth at the EU summit in Brussels this evening are “enormous”.

Speaking at the Chartered Accountants of Ireland Leinster Society lunch in Dublin this afternoon before heading to Baldonnel to travel to the informal meeting, Mr Kenny said it was the first European Council meeting to be focused on growth and opportunity.

"Clearly the opportunities are enormous in the sense of working out a strategy and plan and a path to actually make decisions to implement growth-enhancing opportunities and measures," he said. "I'd hope that out of this particular meeting this evening there'd be an understanding that we have to decide on a strategy for decision-making in respect of growth opportunities."

He said European Commission president Herman Van Rompuy would encourage leaders to submit their proposals to the meeting this evening. When they regrouped in June, a series of decisions would be made.

Mr Kenny said there were few economies in Europe or the world that are more dependent than Ireland on international trade and investment for employment.

Exports of Irish goods and services measured €165 billion in 2011, an €8 billion increase on the previous year and equivalent to 106 per cent of total production in the Irish economy. Of this, €61 billion, or 37 per cent, of the total was exported to other members of the euro zone, he added.

Speaking earlier in the Dáil, Mr Kenny described the summit as “the realisation of the claims made by quite a number of leaders for some time that Europe should focus on growth, investment and job opportunities’’.

The meeting, he said, involved 27 leaders, not 25, because growth affected all of the EU countries.

Speaking in the Dáil before leaving for the summit, Mr Kenny added there was potential for the EU to be the engine of trade in a global sense and reduce the cost of business.

The opportunity also existed for the completion of the single market, dealing with the whole area of digital potential and the crisis within the euro zone, as well as the broader spectrum of relations between the EU and United States and China, he said.

"So the meeting this evening, I expect, will have contributions from all of the leaders of the 27 in respect of the growth agenda for the future," Mr Kenny added. "I will be happy to participate in that, both from the European perspective and our own national perspective."

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it was imperative radical action was taken at the summit to restore confidence and growth across Europe. “The situation today is much graver than anything we have experienced at any time over the past three years,’’ he added.

The Taoiseach also pledged support to Jedward ahead of the Eurovision. “We wish good luck to Jedward in their efforts,” said Mr Kenny of the Dublin-born pair.

The twins, who got through the competition’s semi-final in Azerbaijan last night, will represent Ireland for the second year running this Saturday.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams suggested Mr Kenny he should send Jedward to the EU summit. “Could I ask you to step aside from the EU summit because you’re clearly out of your depth,” said Mr Adams. “Why don’t you send Jedward to represent us? They at least might stand up for Ireland’s interests.”