features@metroireland.ie In Focus 8 METRO Thursday, September 17, 2009 D The following is an overview of the Commission presidents powers: The Commission president has the power to ask individual commissioners to resign or reallocate their responsibilities. As head of the EU executive, the president decides its policy priorities and organises its work. The Commission president represents the EU executive at high-level meetings. The president represents the Commission in major debates in the European Parliament and in the EUs Council of Ministers, where EU governments meet. The cabinet and the Secretariat coordinate the work of the Commissions departments in charge of policy areas ranging from fisheries and agriculture to external relations, competition, environment, transport, and energy. EU Presidential election Jos Manuel Barroso was re-elected as leader of the EU Commission yesterday, and he vows to bring Europe forward together BY ROSS MCDONAGH The big challenge now facing Mr Barroso is Irelands referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on October 2. Having rejected the treaty last year, another rejection would block reforms intended to streamline decision-making in the EU and give it more clout, plunging the Union into crisis. One of the first things Mr Barroso now plans to do as his new term in office begins is visit Ireland, and EU officials say he may arrive here as soon as Saturday. WHAT HAS EU MEMBERSHIP EVER DONE FOR US? Over the past couple of weeks Metro has examined how Dublin has benefited from the EU, including its local infrastructure, tourism, rural development, and how the European Social Fund has helped employment, aeducation and training opportunities. Childcare Services: The demand for childcare has grown dramatically in recent years. To help meet this demand, the EU has provided significant funding to increase the number of childcare facilities and places available to local parents. This has included the provision of capital grants, staffing supports and funding for approved community-based childcare projects, particularly those in disadvantaged areas. Between 2000 and 2008 some 150million was allocated to childcare services in Dublin city and county. Childcare services which have benefited from support include; Grangepark Montessori and Crche; Darndale Belcamp Childcare Centre; Bracken Hill School, Howth; Mercy Family Centre, South Inner City; Ballyfermot Family Resource Centre; Hardwicke Street Childcare and Education Centre; Rush Community Council; Rainbow House, Jobstown, Tallaght; Ballyorgan Community Development Group; Carrickmines and Mountview Community Centre; First Steps Pre-school, Cork Street and many more. City Regeneration, and Urban & Village Renewal The development of some of Dublins most iconic landmarks have been assisted by lending from the European Investment Bank, including Temple Bar (25million) and Dublin Castle, pictured below (6million). At a local and village level, the EU has continued to make a significant contribution to the lives of Dublin residents. Under the EU co-financed Urban and Village Renewal Measures, dozens of Dublin projects have been supported, including: the Grand Canal Docks; The Carmichael Centre; NPU Headquarters; The Bandstand, Blackrock; Blackrock Town Hall; Weir, Lucan Demesne; Mariner Church, Dn Laoghaire; Dublin Docklands; Mountjoy Square Park; Sheridan Court Project; Dorset Street City Gateway; Longford Gardens; and Ballybrack Village. In addition, practically every major town and village in Co Dublin has benefited from EU and national funding to improve streetscapes, new footpaths and kerbing, the installation of new street lighting, landscaping and street furniture. E uropean Commission President Jos Manuel Barroso secured a second five-year term yesterday in a vote at the European Parliament. Of the assemblys 736 deputies, 382 voted for the 53-year-old centre-right leader and 219 opposed. The rest abstained or did not take part in the vote in the French city of Strasbourg. Mr Barroso said after the vote that solidarity, freedom and a stronger Europe would be his priorities. Mr Barroso, the only candidate, had already been endorsed by the 27 European Union member states and his re-appointment as head of the EUs executive had been all but certain because his centre-right allies are the main force in the parliament. He had required only a simple majority but hoped to win by a wide margin to reinforce his legitimacy and help him push through reforms such as tightening financial regulation to prevent a repeat of the economic crisis. The Commission president represents 27 countries and almost 500 million people. He will now start choosing the rest of the Commission, which includes a representative of each member state under the current rules and has important powers to shape EU laws and policy, controls a large budget and is a powerful regulatory authority. Mr Barroso, a Portuguese former prime minister who has led the Commission since 2004, told the parliament on Tuesday that he hoped to steer Europe out of the economic crisis and give it more clout on the world stage. He said he planned to create a number of new Commission posts and that the issue of excessive bonuses at financial firms needed urgent action. If you want a strong Commission, that stands up sometimes to member states, that stands up to national egotisms, you should give the Commission the strong support it takes [to do so], Mr Barroso said on Tuesday. I think its a moment of truth for Europe... If we dont act together, Europe risks being marginalised. Socialist, Green and Liberal leaders criticised him and his programme in a parliamentary debate on Tuesday but made clear they were resigned to him winning the vote. Supporters said Europe needed a leader of Mr Barrosos stature and experience to help it through the economic crisis and that failure to win a strong mandate would undermine the EUs work. A new term for Mr Barroso represents continuity, they say. Opponents said he was slow to tackle the economic crisis and that his programme lacked ambition. They said he had not done enough in his first term to justify a new mandate and had not stood up to the large EU member states often enough. From September 16 to 22, hundreds of European towns and cities will participate in the eighth edition of European Mobility Week and invite their citizens to a wide range of activities promoting sustainable mobility. The 2009 campaign theme Improving City Climates underlines the importance of local-level efforts to tackle climate change and improve quality of life through the promotion of alternative transport modes to the car such as cycling, walking, and public transport, as well as car-sharing and car-pooling. European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for transport, said: The European Mobility Week is a clear example of how initiatives at the European level can encourage and facilitate local action. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: Private cars are large emitters of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, and they seriously affect the quality of urban life. It is therefore important for public authorities and citizens throughout the European Union to adopt more sustainable modes of transport. In Dublin, Merrion Square West will be closed to traffic for the entire day on Monday September 22, and will host a lunchtime concert, Bio-diversity workshops, BMX cycling, and Picnic and Market areas. Primary school children will be encouraged to take part in Walk To School Week. EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2009: IMPROVING CITY CLIMATES Barroso gets a second term at EU helm index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html