Cork Declaration | Getting things done

Times are tough, competition is fierce, and the future looks uncertain. But as Irish poet Seamus Heaney said, “If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.” Over the next six months, Ireland will preside over the workings of the European Union. It must mark the start of a European spring. Our political group will work hard to help the Irish deliver.  

Having spent three days in Cork, engaging with local communities and businesses, being surrounded by innovation centres, fertile farmland, trading ports and cliffs looking at the open sea we became convinced there is much the rest of the continent can learn from the resourcefulness and openness of the Irish people. We also became convinced that the best can still happen—but it’s up to us to make it happen.