Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
567. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures the Foreign Affairs Council has agreed to combat terrorism outside the European Union's borders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15796/15]
View answer568. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the Justice and Home Affairs Council co-ordinates policy on terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 567 and 568 together.
The issue of how best to respond to the threat posed by terrorism has been high on the EU agenda in recent months. Foreign Ministers have focused in particular on the contribution that the EU can make through its external action to the wider international effort to prevent and counter terrorism.
Counter-terrorism was most recently discussed by Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January and 9 February 2015. The February Council called for comprehensive action against terrorism in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights standards. It decided to step up, as a matter of urgency, external action on countering terrorism and to this end it agreed detailed conclusions under five headings. These headings concerned: strengthening partnerships with key countries, supporting capacity building, countering radicalisation and violent extremism, promoting international cooperation and addressing underlying factors and ongoing crises.
Discussions by Foreign Ministers on external measures are complemented by those of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers on internal EU security. The issue has featured regularly on the agenda of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. Following their meeting in Riga on 29 and 30 January, JHA Ministers issued a joint statement with wide ranging conclusions on measures to prevent and combat terrorism.
The need for coordination between the work of Foreign Ministers and Justice and Home Affairs Ministers is particularly important, especially when it comes to the threat posed by international terrorism and returning foreign terrorist fighters. The crucial importance of joint efforts was explicitly recognised in the Riga Statement.
The informal European Council on 12 February took account of the discussions and conclusions of the February FAC and the Riga statement. In their statement, EU Heads of State and Government set out a range of priorities to guide further work by both Council formations. These priorities were set out under three headings: ensuring the security of citizens, preventing radicalisation and safeguarding values, and cooperating with our international partners.
An extraordinary joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council and the Justice and Home Affairs Council took place on 20 April 2015 to discuss migration against the recent tragic events in the Mediterranean. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, and I attended. The root causes of the instability which contribute to migratory pressures, including conflict and terrorism, were addressed in our discussions.
