19 Jan 2012, 17:39
The European Union Affairs Committee, in joint session with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee, today heard an impassioned case for rigorous European Union engagement in the Western Balkans region from Lord Paddy Ashdown.
During the 1990s conflict in the Balkans, Lord Ashdown was one of the leading advocates for decisive action by the international community and he later served as the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
EU Affairs Committee Vice-Chairman Paschal Donohoe TD says: “We thank Lord Ashdown for a stirring contribution which served as a timely reminder to both Committees not to take peace in the region, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular, for granted.
“The Committees heard that the strong momentum in the first 11 years of peace has reversed in recent years, with Bosnia’s fledgling institutions undermined by political instability.”
“While Lord Ashdown was very careful to stress that a return to the dark days of conflict in the region was unlikely, he spoke starkly about the need for the European Union to wield its considerable leverage more proactively in the region. In particular, it should make better use of its soft power, such as attaching more conditionality to large amounts of EU money flowing to capitals in the region.”
“The Committee takes on board Lord Ashdown’s forceful argument that it would be a tragedy for the EU, as well as Bosnia, were Europe to allow the region degenerate into a state of dysfunction, corruption and criminality.”
The Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Chairman Pat Breen TD says: “Both Committees heard a lucid account from Lord Ashdown on the fragile political situation in the Western Balkans.
“The Committee fully accepts that Ireland has a role to play in keeping this high on the international agenda. Ireland currently holds the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and will hold the EU Presidency for the first half of 2013 and will make the case that the Western Balkans be a foreign priority for both important fora.”
Ends
Photos are available from Mick Quinn Photography - 086 2669002
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee on European Union Affairs Membership
Deputies
Joe Costello, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Mick Wallace, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Michael McNamara, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.
EU Affairs Committee Vice-Chairman Paschal Donohoe TD says: “We thank Lord Ashdown for a stirring contribution which served as a timely reminder to both Committees not to take peace in the region, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular, for granted.
“The Committees heard that the strong momentum in the first 11 years of peace has reversed in recent years, with Bosnia’s fledgling institutions undermined by political instability.”
“While Lord Ashdown was very careful to stress that a return to the dark days of conflict in the region was unlikely, he spoke starkly about the need for the European Union to wield its considerable leverage more proactively in the region. In particular, it should make better use of its soft power, such as attaching more conditionality to large amounts of EU money flowing to capitals in the region.”
“The Committee takes on board Lord Ashdown’s forceful argument that it would be a tragedy for the EU, as well as Bosnia, were Europe to allow the region degenerate into a state of dysfunction, corruption and criminality.”
The Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Chairman Pat Breen TD says: “Both Committees heard a lucid account from Lord Ashdown on the fragile political situation in the Western Balkans.
“The Committee fully accepts that Ireland has a role to play in keeping this high on the international agenda. Ireland currently holds the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and will hold the EU Presidency for the first half of 2013 and will make the case that the Western Balkans be a foreign priority for both important fora.”
Ends
Photos are available from Mick Quinn Photography - 086 2669002
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee on European Union Affairs Membership
Deputies
Joe Costello, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Mick Wallace, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Michael McNamara, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.