Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 5

Written Answers. - EU Defence Contribution.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

70 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government is concerned at the prospect that the EU may require Ireland to contribute to defence spending in the Union even though our direct involvement is optional; if he will give details of this proposal; and the Government's response to this proposal. [5058/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The operation of decision making procedures in the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, will be among the matters considered at the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference. In this connection, a variety of suggestions and proposals have been put forward in the reflection group, by some of our EU partners and by the Commission with the objective of refining these procedures.

Some of these proposals and suggestions are variations on the theme that a relaxation of the consensus rule, whether through qualified majority voting or through voluntary abstention, would enable the EU to respond more effectively to the international challenges which face it. These proposals and suggestions envisage also that in the event of a qualified majority in favour of a particular course of action, or in the event of abstention by one or two countries, those partners who are unable or unwilling to join a consensus should not prevent the EU's majority from taking or implementing the decision in question. It has also been suggested that partners in the minority should show political and financial solidarity in such cases. It is of relevance to note in this connection that the proposal has also been made that CFSP should be financed from the Community budget.

These issues are matters for the Intergovernmental Conference. The Intergovernmental Conference negotiations can be expected, in the context of the commitment to review the CFSP provisions as set out in the Maastricht Treaty, to consider the decision making and financial arrangements for the CFSP itself and for any further development of the CFSP towards a common defence policy as envisaged in Article J.4.1.

The decision making and financing aspects of any proposals for a common defence policy that might emerge in the course of the negotiations are key issues to be considered. The Government is examining the implications of these and other ideas that have arisen in the context of preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference negotiations. The Government has indicated that it does not favour proposals to move to qualified majority voting for sensitive foreign policy questions. This would apply in particular to decision making and financing arrangements in the context of proposals to develop a common defence policy for the Union.

The reflection group's final report noted that the majority of members strongly felt that the principle of national sovereignty should continue to govern relations between European countries in defence matters; that the intergovernmental nature of decision making on these issues should be preserved; and therefore, that any such decision making should be conducted on the basis of consensus. In any event, any Treaty changes proposed, including in relation to decision making or financial arrangements in the CFSP area, can be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference only if all partners, including Ireland, agree.