Brendan Smith
Question:157. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40687/14]
View answerWednesday, 22 October 2014
Questions (157)
Written answers
I attended the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 20 October 2014. Discussions were largely dominated by the Ebola crisis in West Africa, as well as by developments in the EU’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods. In opening remarks, High Representative (HR) Ashton gave a short update on the progress of the negotiations with Iran on the nuclear dossier. In addition, HR Ashton welcomed the orderly conduct of elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina on 12 October. Council Conclusions on Bosnia-Herzegovina were adopted without discussion. The first formal agenda item for discussion was the Ebola crisis and there followed an extensive exchange of views, involving the participation of European Commissioners Georgieva (International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response) and Borg (Health). Clearly the outbreak and spread of the disease is a cause of great concern to all EU Member States. During our discussions there was a strong commitment to step up efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, and to increase efforts to improve the coordination of efforts on the ground, including in terms of providing appropriate support to medical personnel. In my intervention, I welcomed the discussion, stressing both the leading role of the UN, as well as the importance of EU coordination. I also provided the Council with a read-out from Minister of State Sherlock’s recent visit to Sierra Leone. The Council Conclusions received strong support and draw together the key aspects of cooperation and coordination at EU and the wider international level.
Ministers were later joined by the UN Special Representative on Libya and Head of UNSMIL (United Nations Support Mission in Libya) Bernadino Leon who updated us on recent developments in Libya and ongoing mediation efforts. Council Conclusions on Libya were adopted by the Council.
The Council adopted conclusions on the situation in Iraq and Syria. These Conclusions unequivocally condemn atrocities, killings and human rights abuses perpetrated by ISIS and other terrorist groups in both Syria and Iraq, as well as by the Assad regime in Syria. The Conclusions also highlight the ongoing humanitarian challenges, and the need to implement UN Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2165 which provide for the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian relief and cross-border assistance. The Council also agreed to expand restrictive measures against the Assad regime, including a new ban on the export of aviation fuel to Syria.
Ministers then had a short exchange on Ukraine. The Conclusions adopted by the Council noted the decreased level of violence while regretting and condemning the continued numerous violations of the ceasefire. The Council called for all parties’ full engagement and swift implementation of the Minsk document.
Finally, the Council turned its attentions to the Middle East Peace Process and the situation in Gaza where there was a useful exchange of views. High Representative Ashton briefed Ministers on the outcome of the donor's conference for Gaza on 12 October in Cairo, which I attended. My comments welcomed the outcome of the Conference – where Ireland pledged €2.5 million in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction aid – while emphasising that this funding could only be effective in an environment where the conflict was not going to resume. As I have stated before, it is imperative that the underlying issues in Gaza are addressed and resolved politically. Ireland’s support for a two-State solution is well known and resuming substantive negotiations to bring this about represents only effective means of ending the conflict.