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EU Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 November 2020

Thursday, 26 November 2020

Questions (7, 9, 47, 54)

Barry Cowen

Question:

7. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the actions taken by Hungary and Poland are undermining the effective functioning of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38445/20]

View answer

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

9. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Poland and Hungary blocking coronavirus recovery funding due to it being linked to the rule of law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/20]

View answer

Cormac Devlin

Question:

47. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action being taken to ensure that the rule-of-law mechanism will be effective in the EU budget discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38456/20]

View answer

Brendan Howlin

Question:

54. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the action of Poland and Hungary in vetoing the multi-annual budget and recovery programme of the EU; the way in which he sees the requirement for member states to adhere to the common values of the Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37954/20]

View answer

Oral answers (15 contributions)

I acknowledge that the Minister answered a similar question earlier and went into great detail. I just want to seek his response to and comments on reports regarding the Hungarian justice minister's comments on reported plans to set up a rule of law institute, hitting back at criticisms regarding the decline in democratic norms in the Poland and Hungary. She also stated that it was "hoped to bring other countries in the region into the initiative". It is quite inflaming, to say the least, and I would like to hear the Minister's response, notwithstanding the commitments to which he alluded regarding the German Presidency's efforts to resolve this issue and bring it to a conclusion. I am also conscious that two years' of hearings have taken place concerning the issues being raised by these two countries regarding others' impressions of them.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 9, 47 and 54 together.

I thank the Deputy and I share his concerns. I outlined in my earlier reply the state of play on efforts to reach agreement on the MFF and the next generation EU recovery package. I am confident that the German Presidency will ensure that clear rule-of-law conditionality is retained. A prolonged delay in releasing funds to vital EU programmes due to continued objections from Poland and Hungary would have a negative impact on the EU’s efforts to deliver recovery across the Union.

More broadly, Ireland is a firm supporter of the rule of law and the values of the EU enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union. We believe it is vital for the EU to have the necessary tools to monitor possible breaches across member states and to respond effectively to challenges when they arise. The EU must insist on the highest standards from its own member states if it is to remain an effective advocate for the rule of law globally. Indeed, the very credibility of the Union is at stake. We have, therefore, supported strong and effective rule of law provisions to protect the EU budget. Once the regime of conditionality is introduced, Ireland will support its fair, proportionate and effective implementation.

It is important to recognise that this regime of conditionality would strengthen the range of existing tools available to the EU for monitoring, promoting and enforcing the rule of law. These include the ongoing Article 7 proceedings against Hungary and Poland, under which there have been several hearings at the General Affairs Council. Ireland has been an active participant in these hearings and will continue to be.

We have also welcomed the publication of the Commission’s first annual rule-of-law report this year, which presents a broad overview of the rule of law situations across member states and the EU as a whole. It provides a valuable, impartial assessment of both the positive and negative developments relating to rule of law. We actively engaged with the Commission in the preparation of the Ireland chapter of the report and we welcome the independent and impartial review of rule of law in Ireland. We look forward to discussing the Irish chapter of the report with fellow member states at a meeting of the General Affairs Council during the Portuguese Presidency in 2021.

I thank the Minister for his reply. I reiterate, from my perspective and that of many others, our acknowledgement of the ongoing politicking taking place within the EU in an effort to address this issue, notwithstanding the ongoing efforts to which the Minister referred and the hearings that have been taking place for the past two years. Our ability to respond effectively to Covid-19 and its impact on economies across Europe is now being threatened by the protracted delay in respect of this issue. Next generation funding is particularly relevant to assisting us across a wide range of areas. Even the Common Agricultural Policy budget is supplemented with funds contained within the next generation allocations.

It is imperative, therefore, at this critical crossroads for our economy and for the economies of other member states and in the context of our response to Covid-19, that this money begins to flow in respect of the assistance available to us in the form of financial measures and packages to help and assist various sectors. I ask the Minister to impress upon our colleagues the need for them to revitalise their efforts to ensure that this issue can be resolved amicably but quickly.

I could not agree more with the Deputy. We just spoke about the potential disruption of Brexit in the context of a deal or no deal, particularly in areas such as fishing and agriculture. We have a €5 billion Brexit adjustment reserve waiting to be allocated and Ireland is certainly going to be first in line for that funding because of the levels of disruption with which we may have to deal. We have, however, potential delays now in sanctioning and progressing EU expenditure because of a separate, but linked, issue in respect of accessing EU funds.

This is something on which the EU collectively has to find a way forward, without undermining its credibility and value system and recognising that the majority of EU member states have a genuine concern regarding the rule of law and its application, and that there be a link between that and the availability of financial resources. We are lucky to have the German Presidency in place now. It is putting in a significant amount of work to resolve this issue and find a way forward, and we support the German Presidency in that endeavour.

I thank the Minister for his comments. There has been debate on this issue already and I will not extend it. A sum of €2 trillion is an eye-watering amount of money, but even that amount is not enough to entice Europe to deviate from its values. Many in the UK argued for a long time that the EU is a Common Market rather than a Union. That is an important aspect in respect of how we consider this matter. Ultimately, the EU is more than a Common Market. It is a Union and, ultimately, a peace project and at the heart of peace are key values. Freedom of the press, freedom of civic space, lack of interference with the judiciary, etc., are important values. I also believe that the way we can tackle the popular right in Europe is by tackling disadvantage and issues in our communities. We do that through budgets like this one, so I impress upon the Minister, as a representative, and on the Taoiseach the need to stand by this position.

The European Union is much more than a Single Market and an economic opportunity for its member states. It is a political union, where there is agreed pooled sovereignty in certain areas, a value system and a vein running through all member states ensuring certain standards are maintained and protected that are core to democracy. It is a value system which allows the European Union to be a credible example of a multilateral system and project that secures peace and protection of its own citizens, but also to be an example internationally for how democracy, the rule of law, a legal system and an acceptable social safety net for people should actually function. While countries will have different policies in different areas, the value system across the European Union must be consistent. It is the job of the European Commission to be the guardian of the treaties and the value system linked to those treaties. That is what is at stake here.

This is not just a difference in policy approach on a certain issue. That is why I believe that the German Presidency is taking this as seriously as they are, and why they have such strong support. That being said, we have to find a way forward because many countries need the application of the budgetary decisions that have been made in recent months, especially in the context of a post-Covid environment.

Is there a ceist eile from Deputies Cowen or McAuliffe?

No. I thank the Minister; he has been more than forthcoming.

I thank the Minister.

We will move on to question No. 10. Had Deputy Kenny indicated that he wanted to withdraw his Question No. 8?

Before foregoing the question-----

We have to take the next one in line, which is Question No. 10, and then it is the Deputy's question after that.

Okay. Is it in order for Deputy Bríd Smith's question to be facilitated if possible?

That will be discussed in the grouping of Questions Nos. 11, 24 and 27.

That is fine.

Question No. 8 replied to with Written Answers.
Question No. 9 answered with Question No. 7.
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