Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
63 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposed linkage by the EU of developing states’ efforts in the war against terrorism with receipt of EU development aid agreed at the EU Foreign Ministers meeting on 22 March 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10079/04]
View answerThere is nothing in the Declaration on Combating Terrorism, adopted at the European Council on 25 March 2004, which states that receipt of EU development aid will be directly linked to developing states' efforts in combating terrorism. Section 12 of the declaration, on international co-operation, commits the European Union to ensuring effective and practical co-operation with third countries through the "Development of technical assistance strategies, to facilitate vulnerable third countries in enhancing their counter-terrorism capability, and by addressing counter-terrorism concerns into all relevant external assistance programmes to promote good governance and the rule of law".
There is no implication in this to suggest that receipt of EU development aid would in any way be linked with states' efforts to combat terrorism. Rather, the EU is committed to providing assistance to enhance counter-terrorist capacity to those states which require it. The EU, through the European Commission, is already pursuing this strategy in a number of third countries on a pilot basis, pursuant to its obligations under UNSCR 1373, 2001. At the same time assistance will be provided to promote good governance in an attempt to deal with some of the root causes of terrorism, an essential step in the elimination of terrorist violence. Such assistance will be based on the continuing centrality of poverty reduction and of local ownership of development programmes.
The declaration also sets out, in Annex I, seven strategic objectives which will form the basis of a new EU plan of action to combat terrorism to be brought to the European Council in June. The Council has committed, under objective 7, "to target actions under EU external relations towards priority Third Countries where counter terrorist capacity or commitment to combating terrorism needs to be enhanced". In implementing this objective it is proposed to "mainstream counter-terrorist objectives into the work of the geographical working groups and external assistance programmes". Specific measures to achieve this objective will be included in the new plan of action to combat terrorism, to be brought before the June European Council.
The declaration does not mean, in any sense, that the provision of development aid would be contingent on a state's compliance with international counter-terrorism obligations. Rather, the EU will ensure that inter alia account is taken of counter-terrorist concerns in the development of assistance programmes to third countries, including technical assistance programmes such as those designed to enhance border controls or police and judicial systems, or broader programmes designed to promote good governance and the rule of law.
