Written Answers. - Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Trevor Sargent
Question:
16
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if, further to his recent meeting in Dublin with EU High Representative, Mr. Javier Solana, he discussed Mr. Solana's 20 page report proposing increased NATO involvement in EU affairs; and the Government's position on these proposals when they are considered at next month's EU Summit.
[12811/00]
John Gormley
Question:
22
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on whether the current EU plans for a rapid reaction force would constitute a European army.
[13651/00]
Gay Mitchell
Question:
106
Mr. G. Mitchell
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on Irish involvement in a possible standing European military force under EU control and able, at short notice, to fulfil Petersberg Tasks type roles, including peace enforcement missions linked to such tasks.
[16902/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 22 and 106 together.
As Deputies will be aware, European security and defence policy is the subject of ongoing and active discussion within the EU. The basis of these discussions is the Treaty of Amsterdam and their focus is on Petersberg Tasks, not mutual defence commitments. I had a useful discussion of these issues with Mr. Solana during his visit to Ireland at the end of March.
The Deputy, I believe, is referring to a draft document prepared by the Portuguese Presidency earlier this year. The EU will require access to NATO's resources, particularly its transport and infrastructural assets, for carrying out substantial Petersberg Tasks. This will require EU consul tation and co-operation with NATO. All EU member states are already co-operating with NATO both in the context of participation in the UN-mandated, NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo and in the context of PfP. The UN and the OSCE have well-established co-operation with NATO. In keeping with its mandate from the Helsinki European Council, the Presidency has chaired EU discussions regarding the principles and modalities for EU relations with NATO in this context. The question of mutual defence commitments does not arise.
The Presidency will submit a progress report to the forthcoming European Council in Feira. This progress report will include principles which will govern EU consultations with NATO. Co-operation between institutions with a role to play in enhancing European security and stability has been encouraged by the OSCE since the early 1990's.
In regard to EU plans for a rapid reaction capability, what was agreed at the Helsinki European Council was a voluntary target for establishing capabilities for Petersberg Tasks. Deputies will be aware that this target, known as a headline goal, which the member states aim to meet by 2003, is to be able to deploy 50,000 to 60,000 personnel within 60 days and to be able to sustain this deployment for one year. This would equate roughly to a mission on a scale comparable to that of KFOR in Kosovo.
The Helsinki conclusions make clear that we are not talking about the creation of a European army. What is involved is not a standing army but rather the enhanced ability to prevent, manage and resolve crises. Participation in the Petersberg Tasks under the Treaty of Amsterdam is on a voluntary basis, and is a matter for sovereign decision in each and every case. The General Affairs Council, with participation as appropriate by Defence Ministers, was mandated at Helsinki to take forward the elaboration of this target and to develop a method of consultation through which this target could be met, and progress reviewed. The Presidency report to the Feira European Council will note progress in elaborating this target. As my colleague, the Minister for Defence has indicated, the question of what contribution Ireland can make will be considered in the context of this process, taking account of the voluntary and case by case nature of the Petersberg Tasks, current Defence Force overseas commitments and security requirements at home. Member states will also use existing planning procedures which, in the case of Ireland and the other neutral and non-allied EU member states, would include the planning and review process of the Partnership for Peace.
Deputies will be aware that the EU is developing in the context of crisis management its civil capabilities, including the capabilities target of being able collectively to supply up to five thousand police officers for the full range of crisis prevention and crisis management operations by 2003.
