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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Common Foreign and Security Policy.

John Gormley

Question:

106 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will accept a mutual defence guarantee being incorporated into the EU Treaty if the neutral countries were allowed an opt out provision. [21213/99]

There is no proposal at present before the European Union to incorporate a mutual defence guarantee into the EU Treaty.

The current debate on European security and defence, which is being conducted on the basis of the Treaty of Amsterdam and the outcome of the Cologne European Council, has a clear focus on the Petersberg tasks of peacekeeping and crisis management, and not on collective defence guarantees.

Both the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Cologne decisions reiterate that the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states shall not be prejudiced. This provision takes account of our policy of military neutrality and that of the other states who are not alliance members.

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