Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Question:
111
Mr. Gogarty
asked the
Minister for Defence
if Ireland will be one of the countries financing the EU crisis management operation in Macedonia; if so, the estimated costs to Ireland there will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4793/03]
Ciarán Cuffe
Question:
146
Mr. Cuffe
asked the
Minister for Defence
his views on the new EU crisis management operation in Macedonia; his further views on the fact that NATO's Deputy Supreme Commander in Europe has been appointed the operational commander; the Irish military units which will be assigned to it; the relationship this has to UN missions in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4788/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 146 together.
Preparations for the take-over by the EU of the current NATO-led security operation in FYROM have been ongoing at EU level for some time, as reflected in the conclusions of successive EU Council meetings at Barcelona and Seville. In this regard, the agreement on permanent arrangements reached between the EU and NATO at the European Council held at Copenhagen in December 2002 has facilitated progress. A subsequent key development was the invitation to the EU on 17 January from the Macedonian authorities to take over the mission from NATO.
At the General Affairs and External Relations Council, held on 27 and 28 January 2003, an EU Council joint action was approved which confirmed the EU's decision in principle to conduct the operation in FYROM. Following on from the joint action, it is envisaged that all of the arrangements will now be in place for a take-over by the EU of the operation in early March.
The joint action also provided for the arrangements for the financing of the operation. In this regard, the principles agreed by the EU for the financing of military operations on 17 June 2002 have been followed. Ireland's position in relation to the financing of such operations has been to maximise the extent that participating member states are liable for their own costs. However, in an operation involving multinational contingents, it is inevitable that some costs will have to be met on a shared basis. The joint action has included an estimated reference amount of €4.7 million in common costs that would be met by the EU member states with other participating countries making an appropriate contribution. Ireland's share of this, at approximately 1%, is estimated at €50,000 per six month rotation.
On 7 February, the GAERC approved by written procedure the appointment of Admiral Rainier Feist of Germany as the operation commander. Admiral Feist also holds the NATO appointment of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. The appointment of Admiral Feist as the operation commander is a pragmatic example of the benefits entailed in the conclusion of the permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO. In this regard, the appointment will ensure a smooth transition from the existing NATO-led operation to an EU-led operation.
Powers of decision in relation to the nature and termination of the operation will be vested in the GAERC, while day to day political control and strategic direction will be undertaken by the political and security committee under the authority of the Council. Ireland's participation in the operation will be subject to our national decision making procedures. At EU level the force generation process has commenced. The question of Ireland's participation is likely to be considered by the Government in the near future.
The operation is one of a range of EU support measures aimed at bringing FYROM closer to EU standards and principles in the context of ongoing support to the peace and stabilisation process in FYROM and implementation of the Ohrid framework agreement. The framework agreement, which was signed by the four main political parties in August 2001, brought to an end a period of ethnic violence and instability in the country. The core of the agreement is a series of constitutional amendments designed to safeguard minority rights, strengthen local government and secure more proportionate ethnic Albanian representation in state institutions.
The United Nations, in Resolution 1371, dated 26 September 2001, welcomed international efforts, including the efforts of the EU, to prevent the escalation of ethnic tensions in the area, and endorsed the efforts of member states to support the implementation of the framework agreement. One of the key tasks of the operation will be to provide support to international monitors and other international actors in FYROM. Ireland already has a significant presence with EU and OSCE monitoring missions in the western Balkans, including the current head of the EU monitoring mission, Ambassador Anton MacUnfraidh.
