Vol. 529 No. 1
132 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the development of the EU rapid reaction force will always, by necessity, be UN-mandated; and if not, if the Irish Government will withhold political as well as military support from such developments. [2265/01]
In the context of Ireland's involvement in the development of European security and defence policy, the Government has consistently made clear to this House and to our European partners that Ireland will approach proposals for specific crisis management missions on a case by case basis and will only participate in operations authorised by the UN as comprehended by relevant Irish legislation. Other EU member states, including Finland and Sweden, also attach great importance to UN authorisation for any potential EU operation.
I wish to clarify any confusion arising from the description of the capabilities for the EU headline goal as a "Rapid Reaction Force" and on the question of UN authorisation for the work on capabilities under way. The response capacity being developed by the EU, and frequently described as a rapid reaction force, is emphatically not a standing army. Rather it constitutes a catalogue of capabilities available to provide the means to carry out Petersberg tasks – tasks of crisis management, peacekeeping and humanitarian activities – the national elements of which can only be deployed on foot of decisions by each potential contributor. The question of a UN mandate for identifying, developing and organising these capabilities does not arise.
In contributing to the development of European security and defence policy, we and other EU member states have made every effort to ensure that the role of the UN is fully recognised. From a political point of view, we hope very much that any decision relating to the deployment of forces by the EU would be in the framework of UN decisions. In the event of an EU crisis management operation arising outside this framework, the relevant Irish legislation is clear and would preclude the involvement of Irish military personnel or equipment.
Overall, the EU is strengthening its relations with the UN, particularly in regard to European security and defence policy. It has been clearly recognised in the conclusions of several European Councils, most recently at Nice, that EU and UN processes should be mutually reinforcing. I also point out that UN Secretary General, Mr. Annan, has welcomed the development of EU crisis management capabilities and that discussions on how the two organisations might co-operate are getting under way. I also understand that the UN Secretary General is to meet with EU Foreign Ministers in the near future.
