Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Mar 1994

Vol. 439 No. 6

Written Answers. - Developments in Central Europe.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

14 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he intends to influence his European Union colleagues in regard to their method of dealing with the ongoing problem in central Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Ireland attaches particular importance to the development of close relations between Central European countries and the European Union. The Government are working actively with our European Union partners to assist these countries in the ongoing transformation to democratic institutions and market economies and in their efforts to ensure the protection of human rights.

The Dublin European Council, in April 1990, elaborated the concept of wide-ranging Association Agreements for Central and Eastern European countries to provide for phased movement towards free trade in goods and services, for continuing economic assistance and for regular political dialogue in an institutional framework. To date, Association Agreements have been concluded with Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Romania and Bulgaria. Ireland was the first EU country to ratify the Agreements with Poland and Hungary which came into force on 1 February last.

In June 1993, the Copenhagen European Council agreed that the associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe that so desire shall become members of the EU as soon as they are able to assume the obligations of membership by satisfying the political and economic conditions required.

To assist them in their efforts to meet these conditions Ireland has strongly advocated the development by the EU of a leading role in the provision of aid to the reform process in Central and Eastern Europe. The EU has contributed over 61 per cent of aid to date. The EU has also assumed responsibility for co-ordination of the international aid effort by the G24. EU assistance includes over 2.7 billion ECU granted as project aid under the PHARE programme from 1991-1993. In addition, major balance of payments loans have been made available to the reforming countries and projects have been rendered eligible for EIB loans. The EU is also one of the chief participants in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Regular political dialogue on international issues of mutual concern takes place on the basis of the structured relationship between the EU and the Central European countries which was agreed upon by the Copenhagen European Council in June, 1993. Ireland, with its EU partners, is now working to develop the arrangements further, towards an informal association of the Central European countries with the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the Maastricht Treaty. I am confident that a substantive package in this regard will be agreed by European Union Foreign Ministers shortly.

The Union has also taken an important initiative to enhance security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. The European Council in December last, as one of its first Joint Actions under the CFSP provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, launched the European Stability Pact. The aim of the Pact is to encourage the States in that region to reach bilateral agreements among themselves on issues concerning frontiers and minorities. The inaugural Conference is scheduled to take place in Paris on 26-27 May 1994. The concepts which underline the Stability Pack are those of preventative diplomacy, conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes—concepts that are at the core of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe— the CSCE. Ireland and our partners in the Union work closely with the Central and Eastern European countries in this forum. The CSCE addresses the security needs of these countries in the broadest sense, with activities encompassing economic matters, human rights, democracy, as well as arms control and reduction, and confidence and security building measures.