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EU Meetings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Questions (177, 178)

Brendan Smith

Question:

177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council; the issues discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14208/14]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he put forward at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the serious difficulties in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14209/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

My colleague the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Paschal Donohue T.D., attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 17 March. While Council discussions were, understandably, dominated by the situation in Ukraine which I address below, other important issues were also discussed, and Conclusions were agreed across a number of key policy areas; the full text of these Conclusions may be accessed on the official EU website http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/EN/foraff/141614.pdf .

In opening remarks, High Representative (HR) Ashton briefed Ministers on her recent visits to both Bosnia and Iran. HR Ashton also presented a short overview of the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) and then moved on to update the Council on the latest developments in the Syrian crisis. It is anticipated that more in-depth discussions will take place on the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood regions at the April Council meeting. A short discussion on the situation in the Central African Republic took place, where the emphasis was on the need to speed up work on the preparations for the CSDP EUFOR CAR operation, as laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 2134. The FAC was also briefed on the preparations currently advancing for the EU-Africa Summit in Brussels at the beginning of next month (2-3 April). The final agenda item, energy, was addressed over lunch and Ministers were joined by Commissioner Oettinger for an exchange of views on EU energy policy and, more specifically, the foreign policy dimension to this critical dossier.

Turning to the crisis in Ukraine, the FAC had a comprehensive and wide-ranging discussion, agreeing on Council Conclusions which strongly condemn the holding of the illegal referendum in Crimea, stating that this is in clear breach of the Ukrainian Constitution. The FAC confirmed that the EU will not recognise the illegal referendum and its outcome, noting that it was held in the visible presence of armed soldiers under conditions of intimidation of civic activists and journalists. The Council Conclusions commend the measured response shown so far by Ukraine.

All Member States expressed strong views and deep concern about the unfolding crisis. In light of the deterioration in the situation, it was decided to implement measures envisaged by the Heads of State and Government at their informal meeting on 6 March, namely the imposition of travel restrictions and an asset freeze against 21 individuals, 8 from the pro-Russian Crimean authorities, 10 Russian Parliamentarians, and 3 Russian military figures. As the Deputy is aware, the European Council at its meeting of 20-21 March added a further 12 names to the list.

In relation to assistance - political and economic - for the government in Kiev, the FAC supported the signing of the political chapters of the Ukraine Association Agreement (which took place at the European Council last Friday). The European Union is also committed to providing strong financial support to Ukraine’s economic and financial stabilisation, as presented by the European Commission in its assistance package.

The Foreign Affairs Council encouraged the Ukrainian authorities to implement an inclusive process, to pursue their efforts to ensure free and fair elections and to advance constitutional reform. It stressed that all human rights violations and acts of violence need to be properly investigated and that measures need to be stepped up to combat impunity. In this context, Ireland and its EU partners look forward to the early establishment of the Council of Europe International Advisory Panel.

The FAC confirmed that the EU remains ready to support the facilitating of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and urged Moscow to take steps to de-escalate the crisis, immediately withdraw its forces back to their pre-crisis numbers and garrisons in line with its international commitments. Importantly, the Conclusions noted that there was still time to reverse current developments and that the Union is ready for a constructive dialogue with all sides.

The Foreign Affairs Council was preceded by a meeting of the Friends of Ukraine which was attended by Minister Donohoe. EU Ministers were able to discuss latest developments with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Deshchytsia, who was also in attendance.

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