Jackie Cahill
Question:154. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on his attendance at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50241/23]
View answerThursday, 30 November 2023
Questions (154)
Oral answers (8 contributions)
While we discuss the Middle East and the ongoing conflict there, I ask the Tánaiste for a report on his attendance at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv.
The Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Kyiv was a crucial moment in this war and was a resolute demonstration that the future of Ukraine lies within the EU. This was the first Foreign Affairs Council to take place in such conditions, which reflects the special circumstances we are facing.
Russia is showing no signs of relenting in its pursuit of a war of aggression against a sovereign UN member state on the borders of the European Union. Russia is testing our resolve and it is important that we maintain our pursuit of the objective of a secure Europe, in which our borders are not subject to change through the use of military aggression.
During the meeting, we discussed how to strengthen and advance the European Union's multifaceted response in direct consultation with both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister, Mr. Dmytro Kuleba.
This included Ukraine’s EU membership perspective, security commitments, sanctions, Ukraine’s Peace Formula, reconstruction and humanitarian supports.
During the meeting I echoed the significance of the EU presence in Kyiv sending a collective signal of solidarity and co-operation. I underlined the crucial nature of ensuring that the instruments for EU support to Ukraine are sufficiently durable, relevant and flexible to make them fit-for-purpose, including the proposed multi-annual fund for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility, in which Ireland will continue to provide non-lethal assistance under the European Peace Facility, EPF. I also reiterated Ireland’s position that ultimately, the greatest security guarantee that the EU can provide to Ukraine is EU membership.
While in Kyiv I also had the opportunity to have discussions with UN partners whose important work in Ukraine Ireland is supporting, and to meet the small Irish community, all of whom are engaged in vital efforts, supporting humanitarian, civilian security and rule of law programmes. I heard first-hand the extent of the challenges that millions of Ukrainian civilians continue to face, with ongoing indiscriminate attacks by Russian forces targeted at civilian areas and civilian infrastructure, particularly energy infrastructure.
I thank the Tánaiste for that reply. As he will be aware, last night, Russian shelling hit the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and at least three civilians were reportedly injured. Russia is ramping up its attacks in the eastern Donetsk region. A Ukrainian military spokesperson said that Russia has doubled its artillery fire and air strikes and has also intensified ground infantry attacks. It has also been reported that Russia is likely to have begun more cluster bombing in the Donetsk region, the bombs ejecting 100 to 350 smaller bombs on a wider area. I know that the Tánaiste is on record as saying that now more than ever, it is vital that the EU provides a strong signal of EU unity in our continued commitment to Ukraine. We remain of the view that eventual EU membership is the ultimate security guarantee which can be provided to Ukraine. Is the Tánaiste confident that the other EU countries subscribe to that view and is there any indication that the new Slovak Government might undermine that situation?
We have witnessed very good progress on the EU issue and the membership application by Ukraine to join the European Union. Ukraine has made significant progress in fulfilling the key recommendations set out for it. In June 2022 candidate status was granted to Ukraine on the understanding that it would undertake reforms. On 8 November 2023, the European Commission published its annual enlargement package report which featured Ukraine for the first time. The Commission has recommended opening accession negotiations with Ukraine so the December European Council meeting will have to take a unanimous decision to follow up on the Commission’s recommendations to open negotiations with Ukraine.
In our view, it has to remain a merit-based procedure although I believe strongly in Ukraine joining the European Union. It is best for Ukrainians and we have witnessed the transformative impact of European Union membership.
At EU level, has there been any discussion about the potential impact of the American presidential election which is due for 2024? If the situation or policy was to change from the perspective of the United States as to the support, what impact might that have on the war in Ukraine?
I want to thank Deputy Devlin for putting in this question. It is very important that we keep up our support of Ukraine at national and at EU level, particularly with the developments in the Middle East. Perhaps the attention and focus is not on the Ukrainian situation as much as it might have been for the 18 months prior to that but it is vitally important that we continue to advocate, support and do everything we possibly can to assist Ukraine in its need at the moment. We must maintain that support throughout 2024 as well.
On the issue of Ukraine’s accession and Irish support for it, how do we justify Ireland’s position in supporting European Union accession for Ukraine in circumstances where Northern Macedonia, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as it was called for some time, has been languishing for so long with such little support, or indeed Bosnia-Herzegovina or many parts of former Yugoslavia? They were deemed to have dangers around corruption, I understand, and needs for reforms. With regard to corruption indices, these countries were stellar performers when it came to Ukraine. Now, suddenly when it is politically expedient with regard to Ukraine, and that we sort of want to pick a fight with Russia, we want to bring in Ukraine.
Second, how can we bring in a state whose borders may not be disputed but they are certainly not real? Which borders will we bring in and are we going to defend or go to fight for Crimea again? Where are we at and what is the reality of it?
First, to speak to Deputy Devlin I condemn the use of cluster bombs. It is reprehensible and cluster munitions are shocking. They have terrible impacts on children and on families after the war. Ireland will help in any way we can to de-mine the battlefield.
Deputy Griffin also made a very important point to maintain momentum in this war. This is a horrible war. Some 7 million Ukrainians have been displaced within Ukraine alone and it is similarly the case for millions more across Europe, as we know in this country. It is a horrible war which was started by Russia. It went in, invaded and attacked from day one. Europe has to make it very clear that enough is enough. If Ukraine fell in days or in weeks, Moldova would be challenged, Georgia would be in difficulty and the Baltics would be under pressure. That is the reality of it.
Deputy McNamara’s question surprises and worries me because accepting Ukraine’s joining the European Union is not about picking a fight with Russia. In fact I pushed strongly on the European Council for enlargement. As a result of the Ukrainian application, North Macedonia and Albania have progressed much faster. I have pushed very strongly that North Macedonia and Albania should be brought in very quickly.
There were other sorts of disputes going on initially between Greece and North Macedonia on the name of the country, and so forth, but my view is that geopolitical enlargement and the geopolitical objectives of the EU are such that we cannot ignore enlargement any longer or put it on the backburner.