Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Sanctions.

Michael Ring

Question:

54 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intends proposing to its European partners that the current package of sanctions applied to a fellow European Union member, Austria, should now be lifted. [16925/00]

John Gormley

Question:

65 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on developments, if any, on the issue of ending EU sanctions against Austria. [16908/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

77 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the Government on the recent proposal by the Austrian Chancellor, Wolfgang Schussel, for a new formula for punishing EU member states that violate the basic principles of the EU. [16926/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 65 and 77 together.

The Government consider that the 14 member states who are applying the measures announced on 31 January in respect of Austria should now reflect on ways to resolve the situation. The Government has made it views known to the Portuguese Presidency which is currently consulting partners. We have encouraged the Presidency to continue in its efforts to move this issue forward while recognising that the issue remains a very sensitive one.

The recent letter from Chancellor Schussel proposing treaty changes in respect of Articles dealing with the violation by a member state of basic principles has been briefly considered at the current intergovernmental conference negotiations. We will continue to discuss with partners the merits of the proposal. However, as any treaty changes resulting from the Intergovernmental Conference will not be agreed before December with subsequent ratification by the member states likely to take at least a further year, the proposals from Austria, and others, would not appear to offer an immediate solution to the present situation.