Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 March 2013
15. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he and or his Department interacts with EU and UN colleagues in the context of European Defence and security issues; if his EU colleagues have expressed any preferences in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13280/13]
View answerSince the coming into force of the Lisbon treaty, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, now conducts the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy assisted by the European External Action Service.
During each European Union Presidency one formal and one informal meeting of Defence Ministers is held. As part of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council 2013, my colleague, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, prioritised a number of areas including enhancing EU-UN relations, in particular, through EU engagement and participation in UN peacekeeping.
The Minister for Defence hosted a very successful and well attended seminar in Dublin Castle on this subject. Speakers from the EU, NATO, the UN and, for the first time, the African Union as well as academia gave informative presentations to more than 120 delegates who attended from all over Europe. This seminar informed the follow-up discussion at the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers who recognised the primacy of the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security and the requirement for the EU to work hand in hand with the UN. The attendance at the informal meeting of EU Ministers for Defence including, for the first time, the UN represented by the under-secretary general at the department of peacekeeping operations also has cemented this priority into the thinking of the EU. At the informal meeting a number of follow-up work strands were identified and these will be progressed with the European External Action Service.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
In regard to the informal meeting of Defence Ministers that was held in Dublin, the Minister for Defence chaired it on behalf of Baroness Catherine Ashton. Discussions covered a range of issues including the upcoming European Council on Defence, Mali, the Horn of Africa and partnerships between the EU and the United Nations. Ministers also had the benefit of the presence of the under-secretary general in the Department of peacekeeping operations for the first time at an EU Defence Ministers meeting.
Partnerships, in particular, between the EU and the United Nations were the final item for discussion at the informal meeting of Defence Ministers. This afforded EU Ministers of Defence and the under-secretary general, department of peacekeeping operations in the United Nations the opportunity to discuss how to foster more effective co-operation and build partnerships in order to enhance the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations.
