Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 November 2016
33. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the discussions at the EU foreign affairs Ministers meeting on 14 November 2016; if he spoke out against the plans to create an EU military headquarters and joint rapid reaction forces, which will ultimately lead to a standing EU army; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36309/16]
View answerThe Minister of State for European Affairs, Dara Murphy, T.D., attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 14 November, where Turkey, Eastern Partnership, the Southern Neighbourhood, and the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy were discussed. My reply will focus on the specific issues raised by the Deputy.
EU Foreign and Defence Ministers, meeting in Joint Session, adopted conclusions aimed at strengthening the EU’s capacity, through its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) to contribute to international peace and stability in support of the United Nations.
This forms part of the implementation of the Global Strategy which commits the EU to promoting peace, security, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The EU’s peace-keeping and crisis management missions complement the political, diplomatic, economic development and trade instruments the Union uses to address the underlying causes of conflict.
CSDP missions need to be properly planned and executed if they are to achieve their objectives of preventing and resolving conflict and building good governance capacity.
A permanent operational planning and conduct capability for non-executive – that is to say training, advisory and capacity building - CSDP missions, appropriately configured, could help ensure that civilian and military capabilities are used in a more integrated way and potentially deliver more effective and responsive CSDP operations in support of the UN. The Council asked High Representative Mogherini to present proposals on that subject. Ireland and our EU partners will consider these proposals when they are presented.
The United Nations has welcomed EU rapid reaction capabilities, including the EU Battlegroups, as a potential resource for UN operations. The Council requested the High Representative to present proposals by mid-2017, in consultation with the Member States, to enhance the relevance and usability of these capabilities.
There is no European Army. Nor are there any plans for one. The Irish Protocol to the Lisbon Treaty clearly states that the Treaty of Lisbon does not provide for the creation of a European Army. Ireland's participation in European Common Defence is prohibited by article 29.4.9 of the Constitution. This protection is reinforced by the Irish Protocol to the Lisbon Treaty.
