Taoiseach Enda Kenny discusses Irish Presidency progress with Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny today welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to Government buildings in Dublin to discuss the close ties between Ireland and Norway and progress in the EU during Ireland’s Presidency.

Building on their brief meeting at the Nobel Prize giving ceremony in December, the leaders discussed bilateral relations between Ireland and Norway. Norway, a member of the European Economic Area, is Ireland’s 11th largest trading partner.

The Taoiseach briefed the Prime Minister on developments in the EU during the Irish Presidency, on progress on banking union, on the work towards an EU-US trade deal, on the EU's budget 2014-2020, and on developments related to the Single Market.

Norway actively participates in the Union's research and funding programme, both contributing and drawing down significant funds, so the agreement reached at the European Council on 7-8 February and the discussions with the European Parliament on the budget are of direct interest.

The Norwegian Prime Minister raised energy and environmental issues, including ongoing talks in the area of climate change, and developments in the EU's electricity market.