Written Answers. - European Security and Defence Policy.
John Gormley
Ceist:
32
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for Defence
if he will report on the recent meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Saragossa, Spain, which was also attended by the NATO Secretary General; and his views in particular, on the discussions to send the EU Rapid Reaction Force to Macedonia and the future financing of EU military capabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11524/02]
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
44
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Defence
the position in relation to the Irish participation in the EU Rapid Reaction Force and the development of European defence policy.
[11859/02]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
121
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Defence
the likely further role of the Defence Forces in the EU Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12043/02]
Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith): I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 44 and 121 together.
At the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers at Saragossa in Spain on 22 March 2002, I attended discussions which focused on the achievement of European capabilities for crisis management. Other issues which were discussed related to the institutional development and the future of ESDP, a possible European Union lead role in relation to the international force in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, for the protection of international observers there. Issues relating to the Mediterranean dimension of ESDP, international humanitarian law and public opinion were also considered.
There are generally one or two such meetings for Defence Ministers held during the course of each EU Presidency. As the meetings are informal, no decisions are reached and the main purpose of the meetings is to provide an opportunity for Ministers to discuss progress made in relation to the European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP, and in particular the Helsinki Headline Goal.
At the meeting, I emphasised Ireland's continuing commitment to participating in the ESDP and in particular to contributing our highly experienced and professional Defence Forces to Petersberg Task operations authorised by the United Nations.
The question of EU involvement in a Petersberg type operation in FYROM was raised at the EU summit held in Barcelona on 15 and 16 March 2002. At the summit, the EU Council requested that the relevant political and military bodies of the Council develop the options to enable the EU to take the appropriate decisions in relation to taking responsibility for the mission currently undertaken by NATO. In this context the EU Council has expressed the European Union's availability to take responsibility, following elections in FYROM – which are likely to take place in September 2002 – and at the request of the FYROM government on the understanding that the permanent arrangements on EU-NATO co-operation, would be in place by then.
Under the terms of Security Council Resolution 1371, the United Nations "strongly supports" the efforts of the international community, including the OSCE, the EU and NATO in co-operation with the FYROM government, in their efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the region. The current NATO mission in FYROM is a mission which is deployed in order to provide security for international observers from both the EU and the OSCE, including representatives from Ireland, who are in FYROM to assist in the process of consolidating a peaceful multi-ethnic society in a country which has had very recent experience of conflict.
In this regard, Deputies may recall that at the Laeken European Council in December 2001 the EU adopted a declaration on the operational capability of the European Security and Defence Policy. The proposal to take responsibility for the operation in FYROM, which as I mentioned above, has the strong support of the United Nations, would give tangible effect to this declaration.
Discussions are ongoing under the Spanish Presidency in relation to the financing of future EU missions. Ireland favours maximising a system whereby costs lie where they fall, that is, that participating countries will pay for the costs incurred by their contingents to particular missions. This is the method by which both KFOR and SFOR, in which Ireland participates, are funded. However, it is likely that in such a system, Ireland would also have to contribute to some costs which cannot be readily ascribed in this way.
Finally, I would like to stress again to the House, as I have on many occasions in the past, that the European Security and Defence Policy is an effort by the European Union to establish a capability of carrying out humanitarian, peace support and crisis management operations – known as Petersberg Tasks. It is not a European army.
National sovereignty is an underlying principle to participation in the ESDP and Ireland will only participate in operations authorised by the UN as comprehended by the appropriate legislation, that is, the Defence Act, 1954, the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960, and the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1993. The decisions on participation taken by individual member states will subsequently be confirmed through the framework of the EU Council.
Our Defence Forces have accumulated considerable expertise with the United Nations over the years and their contribution to missions designed to promote peace and stability are illustrative of the generous humanitarian values that underpin Ireland's approach to assisting those who have suffered the traumatic con sequences of strife or conflict. Ireland therefore has a very positive role to play in contributing this expertise to the efforts of the EU to promote peace and stability.
Question No. 33 answered with Question No. 30.
