Ian Naujock
Ireland
CEU Council
Whitnall High School
Ian Naujock
Ireland CEU Council
Topic 1: Debt Crisis
Fellow delegates of the CEU, on the behalf of the concerns of my countrymen and women of
Ireland, it is recognized that the EU faces many challenges such as the debt crisis as of now.
As everyone within this council is well aware, the economic downturn of 2008-2009 left no
market untouched or without damage. However as we have seen, the economic scars and
bruises vary in severity from country to country. In the present debt crisis of the EU, there are
nations such as Greece and my homeland of Ireland which took the hardest hits, and our
economies are practically left crippled by these financial blows. Meanwhile, other countries such
as Spain and Portugal are on the verge of a similar economic crisis. Ireland is not to judge the
efficiency of the recent bailouts received by Greece, but I do believe Ireland’s ongoing 85 billion
Euros bailout is of much benefit not only to the EU but to the economy of the entire world. In
addition to stabilizing Ireland’s banks, the bailout has already given gracious kick-backs to
investors. Ireland launched its bailout by contributing 17.5 billion Euros of its own. Aside from
Ireland’s own contributions, an instant 10 billion Euros was received from the EU to boost the
capital reserves of the banks. Ireland, with the help of the EU, is further bailing itself out with a
highly rewarding ten-year International Monetary Funds Program. As stated by the minister of
EFSF, this fund has investors all over the world reaping in the benefits of the stimulus packing.
The first benefits of this program were a series of five-year and ten-year bonds aimed at
stimulating the Irish economy with an instant 5 billion Euros. The mister of the EFSF sees the
Irish bailout so far as one of the most successful in history, for these bonds where bought up in
an unheard of 15 minutes from first being put on the market. Not only has this fund put 5
billion dollars into the Irish economy within 15 minutes, but the investors of this first bond
package are already receiving the financial benefits of their purchase with an interest rate of
2.89 percent on each bond.
With 32.5 billion Euros already accounted for in this bailout, all the Irish government needs is to
reach its earmark of 25 billion for the banks and 50 billion for the government. If received,
Ireland’s debt level is predicted to spiral down below the EU limit of 3% of GDP mark. If
programs such as the International Monetary Fund successfully contribute to bailing out Ireland
85 billion Euros, then Ireland suggests other countries such as Spain and Portugal also try
similar methods to repair their deficits. This would not only serve as a partial solution to bailout
European economies besides Greece, which is already involved in a 110 billion Euro Monetary
Fund Program, but according to economists this will also strengthen the Euro’s value and
benefit the International economy by rewarding global investors of the public and private
sectors who contribute funds towards these bailouts.
Ian Naujock
Ireland
CEU Council
Whitnall High School
Topic 2: Security and Foreign Affairs
Although many may see the EU significantly interfering in the sovereignty of national
governments with the Lisbon Treaty; establishment of the European External Action Service is
in Ireland’s favor and should be with other countries. Committees such as the EEAS serve as
just another safety net towards ensuring a peaceful Europe.
The EU has already done much to benefit Ireland, such as helping us to emerge from a troubled
past relationship with the UK. Not only that, but it was because of the positive impact of the EU
on Ireland which inspired Irish leaders to convince a divided Germany to ally the East and West
states in the 1990’s. It was because of this alliance Germany was able to join the EU, and in a
recent conference a diplomat thanked Michael Martin, foreign mister to Ireland, for Irish
involvement in uniting the two Germanys. With that said, the EEAS should be welcomed as
another added measure to further improve diplomatic relationships between countries of the EU,
for the council was made in order to assist the president of the CEU much like the cabinet
assists the President of the United States. However unlike the US cabinet, the EEAS consists of
diplomats of many different nations which gives the President of the CEU a broad base of
knowledge and insight to many concerns. With a more culturally diverse and well-rounded
council to assist a top leader of the EU, will mean a peaceful Europe. With the EEAS in place we
will see many more examples of international problem solving, such as the example where
Ireland assisted Germany in uniting its two states.
These are trying times and the EEAS would most likely ensure a unified Europe. As stated by
our foreign minister, Michael Martin, the EEAS is a much needed committee in today’s Europe
and it will provide stability, during this tense financial situation. So despite the added cost of an
EEAS council to assist the president of the CEU; this council would be of much benefit to Ireland
and to the EU when it comes to regulating peace.
Matt Brunner
Ireland: CEU Energy
As far as sustainable, green energy goes, Ireland has gone extensively into wind
power. Through an array of wind farms onshore and off, The Republic of Ireland has achieved a
capacity of 1,747 megawatts, with the capacity as compared to overall energy usage being
23.5% in 2010. This project was in response to the EU’s RES-E Directive for member states to
have 22% of their nation’s power to be produced by renewable methods by 2010. More
Ian Naujock
Ireland
CEU Council
Whitnall High School
windfarms are planned, but even the farms already out there have issues with miles of red
tape. REFIT (Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff) limits wind energy production to 1450 MW, even
though it is designed to encourage renewable energy. Some other problems are timing to
connect to the grid is hard to come by and also planning permission adds another kink to the
equation. Luckily, wind energy is relatively cost effective,