Peter Sutherland on Stabilising the Euro
Channel: IIEA
Date: 22/09/2011

Peter Sutherland gave a keynote address to a packed house at the IIEA today reflecting on the ongoing crisis in European Union.

In it, he linked Ireland's strategic interests to its engagement with the European Union and to the current turmoil in markets surrounding the Euro. Ireland, he said, "has a vital interest not merely in managing our own affairs properly but also in contributing as best we can to sustaining the European project as a whole and sustaining the Euro in particular."

Elsewhere argued that "it has been proven that a European currency requires substantial powers of oversight and influence over national economies and their budgets to ensure that national policies conform to European obligations.  Without this the Euro cannot survive."

Download his full set of prepared remarks and an mp3 recording of the entire event here. The video of his presentation, and of the Q&A which followed, is being edited and will be uploaded on that page as soon as possible.

Before Mr Sutherland delivered his address, he took the time to talk to us on camera about some of the issues that most concerned him. He first spoke about the reforms needed to sustain the Euro and protect the European Union itself. He then discussed the critical situation in Greece. The third part of our conversation concerned the likely failure of the Doha development round  at the WTO. The last part concerned Ireland, its condition and its prospects.