Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2021
129. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if Ireland provides funding to EU defence initiatives and schemes; if so, the amount Ireland has contributed to same; and when these contributions commenced. [29896/21]
View answerIreland contributes, on an annual basis, to the operational budget of the European Defence Agency (EDA). The financial commitment to this budget is in accordance with EDA funding principles, based on gross national income (GNI) key. A total of €7,596,093 has been made to the EDA over the seventeen years since Ireland joined in 2004, which includes both contributions to the operational budget and also to capability development projects which Ireland has or is participating in.
The EDA supports Member States in developing a range of capabilities and capability standards to support Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), in particular the deployment of military capabilities in support of Crisis Management Tasks, as outlined in the Treaty on European Union. Ireland’s participation in the EDA means that we have access to research and information on developing and maintaining professional capabilities and research that we cannot self-generate. This is important in terms of Ireland's ability to participate in UN mandated Peacekeeping Operations. Also, Ireland’s participation in the EDA affords us the opportunity to keep abreast of best practice and new developments in the defence environment particularly as it impacts on multinational crisis management operations.
The EU Satellite Centre (EU SatCen) is an Agency working for the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union under the Political Supervision of the Political and Security Committee and the Operational Direction of the High Representative, which is governed by a Council Joint Action. In the international security and defence field, it handles sensitive and classified data to support CSDP military operations and civilian missions. The Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs contribute to the budget of the EU SatCen. Over the 14 years since 2007, the total contribution to the budget of the Sat Cen by the Department of Defence is €1,180,701.
In relation to the European Defence Fund (EDF) Member State contributions to the EU Budget (Own Resources) are currently calculated annually by the EU Commission in line with the provisions outlined in Own Resources Decision (ORD) Regulation (2014/335). This includes contributions through traditional own resources (primarily customs duties), a VAT-based contribution with a call rate of 0.3% of a notional harmonised rate, and a Gross National Income (GNI)-based contribution, calculated by taking a Member State’s GNI as a share of EU27 GNI. EU Budget revenue is general, and is not assigned to any particular fund. As such, the EDF does not have a defined cost to the Exchequer; rather, Ireland’s contributions go into the general pool of revenue that funds all EU budget expenditure, including the EDF. The EDF is encompassed within the funding being provided for the Multiannual Financial Framework which is funded directly by the Exchequer. As such, no charge arises for my Department's Vote as a result of the establishment of the EDF. It is important to note that participation in the EDF does not broker any consideration or obligation in respect of a common or mutual defence commitment or participation in a military defence alliance. As such, participation in the EDF will not compromise Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.
Separate to the EDA, EU SatCen and the EDF, Ireland also contributes to the funding of common costs for EU military crisis management operations. These costs are currently financed by the new European Peace Facility (EPF) which has replaced the Athena Mechanism and the African Peace Facility. Both the Athena Mechanism and the African Peace Facility were established in 2004 and operated until 2021.
Under the EPF, the Department of Defence has responsibility for the financing of common costs relating to EU military operations under the EU's common security and defence policy (CSDP), previously handled by the Athena mechanism and the Department of Foreign Affairs has responsibility for the funding of African peace support operations, previously handled by the African Peace Facility.
In addition, the EPF can extend financing for peace-support operations to partners other than the African Union and provide assistance to individual countries and regional or sub-regional organisations.
In 2020, the European Council agreed a €5bn financial ceiling for the EPF over the seven years of the 2021-2027 MFF. Actual spending of EPF funds will require separate unanimous Council Decisions for each operation or assistance measure and so the breakdown of spending over each of the seven years cannot therefore be predicted accurately at this time.
