Ireland seeks 'new phase' in EU recovery

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DUBLIN, Ireland, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- After officials promised to "usher in a new phase in the European Union's drive for recovery," Ireland on Monday assumed the presidency.

The occasion caps off a week of celebration that began New Year's Eve with the raising the EU flag over Dublin Castle.

The same day, Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore wrote in the Irish Times: "The year 2013 will usher in a new phase in the European Union's drive for recovery."

He said Ireland will institute a "youth guarantee scheme" to try to get young people back to work.

This will be a busy week for Ireland and the rest of the EU. On Tuesday and Wednesday, top EU officials and 27 commissioners will visit Dublin, and on Wednesday the commission will unveil its European Cyber Crime Center.

On Thursday, the EU's civil liberties committee will vote on whether member states can suspend visa-free regulations during a sudden surge in migration while the budget control committee will question foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton about her 2011 spending.

The EU presidency rotates among member states every six months.