Irish firms to battle over EU presidency sponsorship
By Honor Mahony
In a sign of the prestige and economic benefits that the six month rotating presidencies can bring EU member states, Irish companies are set to battle to have their logos everywhere during their country's presidency.
The Irish Independent reports that the Irish government, which will take over at the EU helm in the first half of 2004, is considering allowing Irish companies to provide sponsorship to the presidency.
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It has written to trade and business organisations to see if their members would be interested in such a move.
The Foreign Affairs department, which is considering the move, is likely to rule out cash sponsorship but would condone sponsorship of such goods and services as catering, media packs and gifts with a suitably Irish theme for the delegates.
If given the go-ahead companies could not only put their logos on everything ranging from pencils to water bottles but also on the Irish Presidency website.
Both the Danish and Greek Presidencies (in the second half of 2002 and the first half of 2003) also used private sponsorship.
As with all presidencies, Ireland will be host to hundred of meetings during its six month stint. Most member states use it as time to showcase their country which is constantly visited by European politicians, officials and journalists during the presidency period.
"Thousands of visitors will come here to attend these meetings. The spin-off of good-will for Ireland and for future tourism is likely to be quite significant", the Irish Europe Minister, Dick Roche said recently.
