Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 7

Written Answers. - European Security Model.

Ray Burke

Question:

32 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the implications, if any, for Ireland of developing the idea of the new European Security Model following the recent OSCE meeting in Lisbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23972/96]

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

44 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, made at the Lisbon OSCE summit regarding strengthening the role of the OSCE in the European security architecture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24011/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 44 together.

Ireland, as EU Presidency, participated fully in the preparatory work for the Lisbon Summit and in the drafting of the Lisbon Declaration, including the Declaration on "A Common and Comprehensive Security Model for the Twenty-first century". A copy of the Lisbon Declaration has been placed in the Dáil Library. The final text reflects many of the ideas and suggestions that Ireland put forward on behalf of the EU. In summary, the declaration reflects the commitment of all OSCE states to create "a common security space free of dividing lines in which all States are equal partners."

The fundamental elements of this common security space are the comprehensiveness and indivisibility of security and the allegiance to shared values, commitments and norms of behaviour, which have been developed and acknowledged by OSCE participating states.

Central to this approach is the concept of mutually reinforcing co-operation between security institutions, which has already been endorsed by the OSCE, and which is seen in a practical light in the former Yugoslavia, where the UN, the OSCE, NATO, EU and Western European Union have all played mutually reinforcing roles in the cause of peace.

In addition to the Declaration on the Security Model which reaffirmed that the OSCE has a central role in the new European security architecture, the Lisbon Summit Declaration includes the decision by OSCE-participating states to continue their efforts to enhance the efficiency of the OSCE as a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. It was agreed that the chairman-in-office should report on progress achieved, in relation to strengthening the OSCE's institutions and structures, at the OSCE Ministerial Council to be held in Copenhagen in December 1997.

The Declaration on the Security Model, with the agreement reached on an agenda for further work on the Security Model, represents the commitment of all OSCE states to enhance security co-operation, through the OSCE and in partnership with other international organisations. This is in keeping with the approach set out in the Government's White Paper on Foreign Policy and the commitment to develop further the OSCE's central role.