Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
14. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his position in relation to the abolition of the veto in almost all areas of EU decision-making – including on military and security matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2790/24]
View answerThe EU faces unprecedented foreign and security policy challenges. The invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East demonstrate the need for the EU to be able to react robustly and rapidly to developments that threaten our interests and values.
It is important to state that Defence and Security remain national competencies and will of course continue to require unanimity in EU decision-making. Any decision to alter these arrangements would require treaty change. The specific character of Ireland's own security and defence policy, as set out in the Protocols attached to the Lisbon Treaty, is also well known and respected by our fellow EU Member States.
In tandem, discussions are ongoing amongst Member States on future EU Enlargement and its policy and budgetary implications. As the Granada Declaration adopted by the Informal European Council of 6 October outlined, both the EU itself and future Member States need to be ready for Enlargement. Just as we expect candidate countries to prepare for the requirements of EU membership, we within the Union are undertaking the necessary internal groundwork and reforms.
The Commission will carry out a series of assessments of these implications in the coming months, which will be an important contribution to the ongoing reflections on EU decision making.
Like many other Member States, we have a cautious approach to greater use of Qualified Majority Voting and believe it is important to consider this issue collectively. In this context, we have joined the Group of Friends of QMV in the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy as an observer. We see the value of greater use of QMV for decision-making in certain limited circumstances where it would make decision-making more efficient and where the Treaties already make allowance for it. We continue to stress nevertheless, the unique value of the united voice of the EU 27, in projecting a coherent voice on the international stage.
