asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself with the achievements to date of European political co-operation within the context of the nine member states; if he will outline the number of meetings that have taken place; and the number of staff of his Department directly involved in this connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Political Co-operation.
11.
Before describing the achievements of European political co-operation, I feel that it would be useful to say something about the way in which these activities among the nine are conducted. European political co-operation has a number of basic characteristics which differentiate it from the activities of the Community and determine the nature and scope of its content and indeed of its achievements. As the Deputy is aware, political co-operation is a non-institutionalised intergovernmental arrangement. It flows not from obligations assumed under a treaty but from a political commitment by the nine member Governments to mutual information, consultation and, where possible and desirable, common action in foreign policy matters. Secondly, because political co-operation is an effort on the part of the Nine Governments concerned to co-ordinate policies and work towards common positions, it operates pragmatically and by consensus.
Another important feature of political co-operation which I should mention is that its field of application is external, in that it is concerned with the relations which the nine, as such, have collectively with the external world. Finally, it is important to recognise that the means available to the nine in working towards common positions and common action are the normal instruments of diplomacy, that is to say, that their foreign policy activities are conducted by making their positions known through public declarations and representations to other Governments, as well as through concerted negotiation, common statements and co-ordination of voting positions in international bodies.
One must bear these basic characteristics in mind in any attempt to outline the achievements of the nine in political co-operation. And I believe these achievements are considerable. In broad terms I would say that these achievements are of two kinds. First, and most concretely, there is the fact that over recent years the nine have adopted common positions and taken common action in relation to numerous international issues where they were able to identify a clear community of interest. As a result over a wide range of international problems they have been able to bring their considerable influence to bear in a manner consistent with the ideals and principles shared by the members of the Community in the promotion of peace, stability and equity in the world.
The second achievement, which is perhaps less obvious, is the fact that the nine, in operating the procedures of political co-operation on external issues, have by now developed between themselves the habit of consultation and co-ordination to such an extent that it has become almost a reflex. Consultation among the nine on international issues together with other important developments, such as the establishment of the European Council which deals with political co-operation as well as Community matters, has provided the nine with the capacity through political co-operation to respond to and influence world events through co-ordination, mutual solidarity and common action.
From an Irish point of view I am satisfied that over the years political co-operation on the whole has achievements to its credit which are commendable and that political co-operation as currently organised is a means whereby the Community can respond and help to shape events in the world in a way which it would be virtually impossible for a small country acting on its own to do.
The second part of the Deputy's question relates to the number of meetings and the number of staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs involved in political co-operation. As to the number of meetings, the rhythm of these meetings varies in function of the need to respond to international events. However the figures for the period of the Irish Presidency will illustrate the scale and intensity of the activities involved. In any one year there are three meetings of the European Council. One of these meetings, as the Deputy will recall, was held in Dublin during our Presidency. There are four meetings of Foreign Ministers each year. Two of these were held in Dublin. In addition there are on average about 40 meetings at Official level. In fact the precise figure for the Irish Presidency was 37 such meetings. In addition there are frequent colloquies conducted by the President-in-Office with the Political Affairs Group of the European Parliament. The activities in the area of political co-operation are serviced by the Political Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs in addition to its other duties. The number of diplomatic personnel directly involved in political co-operation is 22, together with 16 clerical and secretarial members of staff.