As a first priority, the 2024-2029 mandate should focus on ensuring the legislation agreed in the 2019-2024 mandate is implemented in a pragmatic, streamlined and coherent manner.
The last EU mandate introduced substantial new directives and regulations, reflecting the EU‘s ambition to lead the world in legislating for the twin green and digital transition. At the same time as agreeing world-leading measures, Europe endured a significant period of challenge including Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, inflation, labour and skill shortages, supply chain instability, increasing protectionism, war in Europe and rising geopolitical tensions. For Irish business, the rising cost challenges stemming from these events and policy decisions, not least in relation to implementing new legislation and energy, and their impact on competitiveness is the critical issue for 2024-2029.
The European Green Deal and its centrepiece Fit for 55 package set out a pathway to meeting a now EU binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 in preparation for carbon-neutrality in 2050. To realise this ambition, everything from the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) affecting energy and manufacturing to energy efficiency for buildings has been revised, while new legislation has been established to address carbon-intensive imports alongside initiatives to bolster renewable energy. On digital policy, a new, wide ranging set of world-first rules have been established in EU law. This legislation introduces a new framework of requirements for online marketplaces and services, for the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as for access to and use of data, among others. Every sector of the Irish economy will be impacted by these cross-sectoral measures and sector-specific measures.
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