MAKING TOURISM A PRIORITY OF IRELAND'S EU PRESIDENCY

Ireland holds the presidency of the EU Council for six months starting January 1st 2013. During this time, it is expected that final agreement on the EU's 2014-2020 budget (otherwise known as the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020) will be reached. 
Ireland should make tourism a priority of its presidency and establish a direct budget line for tourism, thus completing the work begun by the authors of the Madrid Declaration.
By so doing, budget lines used for the support and coordination of tourism initiatives will be consolidated under a coherent and comprehensive financial framework for tourism. And, just as importantly, the potential of tourism to stimulate long-term job creation and economic growth across Europe will be made clear.