Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:190 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to promote the Irish-Bulgarian relationship; and if he will report on recent consular activity between Ireland and Bulgaria. [10286/03]
Written Answers. - Diplomatic Representation.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:191 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is intended to open an embassy in Bulgaria in the near future, in view of its anticipated entry into the European Union. [10287/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:192 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to enhance cultural, economic and political exchanges with Bulgaria in the future, in view of the anticipated entry of the country into the European Union. [10288/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191 and 192 together.
The Government remains committed to developing all facets of our relationship with Bulgaria. Ireland currently has diplomatic relations with Bulgaria on a non-residential basis. The Irish ambassador to Greece is also accredited to Bulgaria. Consular matters, as they arise, are dealt with by the embassy in Athens.
The spread of resident Irish missions abroad is reviewed by the Government on an ongoing basis, with decisions to open new missions being based on a thorough assessment of the costs and benefits involved. In 2001, the Government decided to open new embassies in a number of EU candidate countries on a phased basis prior to the commencement of Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2004 and subject to the availability of the necessary resources. New embassies have since been established in Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Cyprus and Brazil. The opening of additional missions will be kept under ongoing review, including in the context of the availability of resources.
Ireland and Bulgaria enjoyed good co-operation during our time together on the UN Security Council and the Minister for Foreign Affairs met his Bulgarian counterpart, Mr. Solomon Passi, in September 2002,en marge of the UN General Assembly in New York. Ireland looks forward to working closely with Bulgaria again during our Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2004 when Bulgaria will be Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE.
Bulgarian civil servants participate in courses and seminars on EU issues in Dublin, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and organised in conjunction with the Institute of Public Administration, IPA. Bulgarian students' participation in the UCD masters programme in european studies is also funded by my Department.
As part of the Government's programme of upgrading relations with candidate countries, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Deputy Roche, is due to visit Bulgaria at the end of this month.
Total trade between Ireland and Bulgaria has increased significantly in recent years from €11.06 million in 1998 to €27.2 million last year. It is expected that this trend will continue as negotiations for membership of the European Union advance.
A double taxation agreement between Ireland and Bulgaria came into force on 5 January 2001. The agreement provides a strong framework for the further development of economic and commercial relations. We are keen to identify opportunities for increased trade and investment flows and the Embassy of Ireland in Greece and the office of Enterprise Ireland in Budapest will continue to work in this direction.
The Copenhagen European Council in December 2002 stated that, following the conclusions of the European Council in October 2002 and depending on further progress in complying with the membership criteria, the objective is to welcome Bulgaria as a member of the European Union in 2007. The EU is to increase significantly pre-accession assistance. Areas such as justice and home affairs will be treated as a priority.