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EU Meetings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (71)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

71. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcomes of the Foreign Affairs Council that took place in Brussels on 22 July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37073/13]

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Written answers

I attended the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council which took place in Brussels on 22 July last.As the Deputy will be aware, a wide range of issues were discussed at the Council meeting and important Conclusions were agreed across a number of key policy areas; these Conclusions may be accessed on the official EU website http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/EN/foraff/138317.pdf. High Representative (HR) Ashton’s opening remarks touched upon Water Diplomacy and the critical importance of water security for international peace and security, and an update on the situation in Myanmar/Burma. Council conclusions were adopted on both of these issues.

There followed a discussion on the latest developments in some of Africa’s most troubled and conflict ravaged regions – the Great Lakes, Somalia and Mali.

On the Great Lakes, Ministers welcomed the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation and the appointment of Mary Robinson as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to oversee the implementation of the Agreement, which offers an important opportunity to bring a resolution to the crisis. On Somalia, we welcomed the announcement of details for the New Deal Conference in Brussels on 16 September. This event represents a concrete demonstration of the progress that Somalia has made towards re-establishing peace, stability and security. Ministers also acknowledged the significant positive progress that has been made since the French-led intervention in Mali earlier this year, and underlined the importance of the elections as the next major step forward in the process of full restoration of constitutional order on the whole territory of Mali.

In my intervention under this item, I emphasised the critical importance of breaking the cycle of violence in all three conflicts. I particularly welcomed the Framework Agreement on the Great Lakes and articulated Ireland’s strong support for the role of the UN Special Envoy Mary Robinson. On Somalia, I welcomed the holding of a Conference in September and recalled Ireland’s ongoing commitment to the country, with over €41million provided to aid agencies operating in Somalia since 2007. I also paid tribute to the important work being carried out by the EUTM Somalia. Finally, on Mali, I joined with other Ministerial colleagues in acknowledging the significant advances that have been made over the last few months.

Ministers engaged in an extensive discussion on the unfolding political crisis in Egypt. HR Ashton briefed us on her recent trip to Cairo and her meetings with the interim Presidency, the Egyptian Army and representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood. I and other colleagues emphasised the importance of ending violence and starting a fully inclusive political dialogue as the only real way out of the crisis. I took the opportunity to thank HR Ashton and her team – notably the EU Special Representative Bernardino León – for their work in Egypt. We adopted Council Conclusions, which inter alia urged the interim authorities to act with restraint, and drew attention to the critical economic situation in the country.

In the human rights area, the Council discussion focused on implementation of the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy as adopted in June 2012. Ministers expressed their full support for the implementation of the human rights package and the work done to date by the EU Special Representative in highlighting the EU’s policies on human rights. In my intervention I drew particular attention to the increasing threat to civil society in many countries. In this regard, I informed partners of an Irish initiative for a resolution on space for civil society, that has been introduced at the current session of the Human Rights Council running until the end of September.

The discussion on Eastern Partnership preceded a meeting of EU and Eastern Partnership countries which took place directly after the Council. EU Foreign Ministers reviewed progress in relation to Associated Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) with the Eastern partner countries in advance of the Vilnius Summit at the end of November.

On Syria, there was a short exchange of views over lunch on the state of play at that time. Clearly the situation has deteriorated dramatically since our July discussions, but at the Council meeting, I joined with my Ministerial colleagues in emphasising the importance of the ‘Geneva II’ process and repeating Ireland’s commitment to do the maximum to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

Ministers discussed the latest developments in the Middle East Peace Process. The Council welcomed the resumption of direct negotiations between the two parties, paying tribute to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts in this regard, and discussed ways in which the EU could support the process. In my intervention, I highlighted ongoing concerns regarding Settlement activity and the viability of the Two-State solution, and welcomed the fact that Ministers would return to a discussion on the Peace Process in the autumn.

Finally, the Council discussed issues relating to Lebanon and agreed to designate the Military Wing of Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organisations. This decision does not prevent our ongoing dialogue with all political parties in Lebanon, or the delivery of EU assistance to the country. The position will be reviewed on a six monthly basis in keeping with the regular timeframe for reviewing such decisions.

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