Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
15 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position on the proposal to create an EU Security Council as recommended by the report of the Venusberg Group entitled A European Defence Strategy published on 27 May. [18868/04]
View answer45 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position on the proposal to create an EU internal security agency as recommended by the report of the Venusberg Group entitled A European Defence Strategy published on 27 May. [18869/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 45 together.
The Venusberg Group is a group of academics who carry out security and defence studies. It is affiliated to the German think tank, the Bertelsmann Foundation. Therefore, the report has no formal standing and its proposals are not under consideration within the EU.
The basis for European Security and Defence Policy is set out in the relevant articles of the EU Treaty. The political and security committee, or COPS in its French acronym, is responsible for exercising political oversight for the Common Foreign and Security and Defence Policy under the overall control of the Council. This includes providing political control and strategic direction of the crisis management operations carried out in the context of the ESDP.
The European Council, at its meeting in March, adopted a Declaration on Combating Terrorism that sets out a range of measures to enhance EU action in the area. The Council reviewed progress on the implementation of these measures at its meeting on 17 and 18 June. At the March meeting it also appointed a counter terrorism co-ordinator, Mr. Gijs de Vries. He will co-ordinate the work of the Council in combating terrorism. He will also maintain, with due regard to the responsibilities of the Commission, an overview of all the instruments at the Union's disposal with a view to regular reporting to the Council and effective follow-up of Council decisions.
The Government is satisfied that current bases for the ongoing and future development of ESDP and counter-terrorism activities at EU level, including those set out in the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, are the most appropriate ones.
