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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 7

Written Answers. - EU/WEU Relationship.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

40 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will oppose any closer relationship between the European Union and the Western European Union until the latter commits itself to nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

42 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has received an invitation for Irish troops to participate in the first military manoeuvres of the Western European Union, the response, if any, the Government has issued to the request; the steps, if any, the Government intends to take to promote public debate on the question or membership of the Western European Union; if it is intended to publish a Green Paper on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 42 together.

The relationship between the European Union and the Western European Union is set out in Article J.4 of the Maastricht Treaty. Under these provisions the European Union may request the Western European Union to elaborate and implement decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications. The Treaty called on the Foreign Ministers of the Union to adopt the necessary practical arrangements in agreement with the institutions of the Western European Union. The European Council, meeting in Brussels on 29 October last, endorsed a set of proposals made by the Foreign Ministers on the arrangements that will govern the relations between the Union and the Western European Union. These are set out in document 9252/1/93 a copy of which has been placed in the Dáil Library. They cover such matters as the kinds of situations in which the Union may make a request to the Western European Union, consultation procedures between the Union and the Western European Union, co-operation between the Presidencies of the Union and the Western European Union, and the synchronisation of the dates and venues of meetings.
Although the Maastricht Treaty specifies that the Western European Union is "an integral part of the development of the Union" the Western European Union remains a separate organisation operating within its own Treaty framework — the Brussels Treaty of 1948. The arrangements agreed by the European Council make it clear that decisions of the Western European Union are to be taken in accordance with the decision-making procedures of that organisation.
There are no proposals at the moment for the further development of the Treaty relationship between the European Union and the Western European Union.
At a meeting of the Western European Union Permanent Council on 18 January, which Ireland attended as an observer, the Spanish delegation invited all members, associates and observers of the Western European Union to participate in a joint military exercise which is being conducted by France, Italy and Spain from 15 to 25 November next. The Government does not intend to participate in this exercise.
It is clear that, in the period that has elapsed since agreement was reached on the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, there has been a significant evolution in the international security situation. This change has been most marked in Europe in the aftermath of the ending of the Cold War. It is reflected in the major reappraisal of their roles being undertaken by bodies such as Western European Union, NATO and the CSCE and the development of new forms of co-operation, such as the "Partnership for Peace" initiative. The review of the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the Union which will take place at an Intergovernmental Conference in 1996, and to which I have referred in the reply to an earlier question, will need to take account of such changes. As I have already indicated to this House, there is a need for a full and informed discussion on the question of European security and defence in the light of the ongoing developments in this area and in preparation for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference. I am currently considering the possibility of publishing a document on the matter.
On the question of nuclear weapons, Ireland's opposition to nuclear weapons is of long-standing and well-known. Successive Governments have made clear our policy of seeking the complete elimination of all nuclear weapons and the conclusion of a nuclear test ban treaty. This remains our policy.
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