Finian McGrath
Ceist:467 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Seville Declarations are legally binding. [15458/02]
Written Answers. - EU Declarations.
Minister for Foreign affairs (Mr. Cowen):
The National Declaration by Ireland and the Declaration by the European Council made at the Seville European Council have a formal status and authority. Should the people decide that the State may ratify the Nice treaty, the National Declaration will be lodged with the instrument of ratification and forwarded to the United Nations.
The Seville Declarations provide authoritative statements by the Government and by the 15 EU member states and the European Commission that Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is fully compatible with, and safeguarded by, the EU treaties. including the Treaty of Nice.
All the legal guarantees which Ireland needs in the security and defence area are already in the European treaties. These treaties are legally binding, as are the safeguards which they contain. Since the treaties contain no obligations inconsistent with our traditional policy of military neutrality, the question of seeking legally binding opt outs from the treaties does not arise.