Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 5

Written Answers. - Summit Meeting.

Austin Deasy

Question:

36 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request the EC to initiate a summit meeting, involving (1) the EC members, (2) the newly independent states of Eastern Europe and (3) the former Soviet Union Republics which have now declared their independence, to discuss the way those nations can be assisted by the EC.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I do not believe that a separately convened summit meeting of the type described by the Deputy would confer at this time benefits that would be additional to those obtainable under existing arrangements.

Within the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) the participating states from Europe and North America met at the highest level at the Paris summit in November 1990. The Helsinki follow-up meeting, which will also involve Heads of Government, is due to take place in March 1992.

In addition various more specialised meetings within the CSCE process provide valuable fora for the discussion of co-operation.

The European Community and its member states are involved centrally in the international effort to encourage and support economic and political reform in Central and Eastern Europe. I have detailed the Community's own contribution in a reply to Deputy Deasy on 7 November. The Commission also serves as chairman of the Group of 24 co-ordination framework for assistance to Central and Eastern Europe. The G24 provides a most useful point of contact between the donors and recipients of economic assistance. The most recent ministerial level meeting on 11 November was attended by representatives of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and the Baltic States as well as by G24 Ministers.

The Community's own contacts with the Central and Eastern European countries are already intensive. The signature next week of association agreements between the EC and Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia will mark a further stage in the development of relations. These agreements cover a wide range of co-operation and provide for regular political dialogue including consultations at the highest level. It is envisaged that similar agreements will be negotiated in due course with all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The situation in the Soviet Union is rapidly evolving and further developments could well have implications for representation of that area at international meetings. Economic aid is being supplied by the Community in the form of food aid and technical assistance. Formulation and implementation of EC measures of assistance involve intensive contact between Community officials and Soviet and Republican representatives and these are continuing.