Phil Hogan
Question:12 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters discussed at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers held in Offaly in April 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14491/04]
View answerWednesday, 19 May 2004
Questions (20, 21)
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:31 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters discussed and any conclusions reached at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers held in Tullamore on 16 and 17 April 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14560/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 31 together.
On 16 and 17 April, I hosted an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, or Gymnich, in Tullamore. The purpose of this informal meeting, which traditionally takes place during every Presidency, is to allow ourselves the time and space to consider issues in more depth than would normally be available to us at the monthly Council meetings. The meeting in Tullamore was no exception and the informal setting facilitated an open and detailed discussion on a number of pressing international issues including the Middle East peace process, Kosovo and Iraq.
In light of the ethnically motivated violence in mid-March, we reviewed the situation in Kosovo. We agreed that the outbreak of violence has been a setback for Kosovo, endangering the progress made in recent years. The immediate priorities must be to ensure security, to bring those responsible to justice, the return of displaced persons and the reconstruction of property. Ministers agreed to urge all political leaders in Kosovo to work to ensure the physical security and the full protection of the rights of members of all communities.
Ministers had a comprehensive discussion on developments in the Middle East peace process including the outcome of the meeting in Washington on 14 April between the President of the US and the Prime Minister of Israel. Although the meeting in Tullamore was informal, it was felt desirable to issue a statement reaffirming the commitment of the European Union to the basic principles underlying the peace process and the roadmap leading to a two-state solution.
We also addressed the security situation in Iraq and its impact on the political transition process. We agreed that a strong UN role is an essential element for a successful political transition process. The EU is committed to supporting the role of the UN and is ready to provide assistance. Ministers asked the High Representative and the Commission to continue their work on a medium-term strategy that will set out how the EU can play a role in support of the political process and in the reconstruction of Iraq.
There was also a discussion on effective multilateralism, one of the central priorities of the Irish Presidency. Ministers engaged in a valuable exchange of views on some of the major questions at the heart of the future of multilateralism — fundamental questions such as the nature and limits of self-defence; and the responsibility to protect in cases of gross violations of human rights and humanitarian catastrophes. We also reviewed how the political and economic strength of the EU could most effectively be deployed in support of the UN, including in the area of crisis management, as well as the preparation of the EU's contribution to the UN Secretary General's high level panel on threats, challenges and change. On Monday, 17 May, Ministers endorsed the transmission of the EU contribution to the panel.
Brief discussions also took place in relation to the ASEM, Asia-Europe Meeting, process, in advance of the attendance by the EU Ministers at the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting, which took place in Kildare immediately after the Gymnich meeting on 17 and 18 April.
As is the tradition at Gymnich meetings, I hosted a working lunch with the candidate countries at which Ministers briefed their colleagues from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey on our discussions at the informal meeting. During this lunch, there was also a brief exchange of views on Cyprus in advance of the referenda on 24 April on the settlement plan presented by the UN Secretary General.