Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 3

Written Answers. - Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

20 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the provisions being put in place for the financing of the planned future expanded role for EU foreign and security operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26776/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The financing of military and civilian crisis management operations has been an important issue since the outset of European security and defence policy ESDP. It has also proved to be particularly important in the context of specific ESDP operations such as the EU police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the EU's military monitoring and stabilisation mission in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the EU's military assistance mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The importance of an appropriate financing mechanism in each case has derived from the need for the EU to be able to respond effectively to operational requirements, while at the same ensuring that the proper budgetary checks and balances are maintained.

The legal base for expenditure which is laid down in Title V of the Treaty on European Union makes a distinction between administrative expenditure and operational expenditure. Article 28 of the treaty states that operational expenditure having military or defence implications may not be charged to the Community budget. Instead, and unless the Council unanimously decides otherwise, such expenditure shall be charged to the member states in accordance with the GNP scale. Article 28(3) of the Treaty on European Union provides that constructively abstaining member states making a formal declaration under article 23(1) of the treaty shall not be obliged to contribute to the financing of an operation.

In the case of the EU police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the forthcoming EU police mission in FYROM, and in accordance with the treaty, common costs are being met out of the European Commission-administered budget for the common Foreign and Security Policy. To date, costs of mission allowances for participating personnel have fallen to be met by the respective sending states.

As regards military ESDP operations, practice has been informed by specific principles agreed at the June 2002 General Affairs Council on the financing of such operations. These principles provide that any element of common costs to be shared by member states should be limited to what is absolutely necessary and that member states would otherwise only be responsible for costs incurred by their own military forces. Crucially, the principles also show full respect for the treaty provision that member states who choose to formally opt out from any specific operation should not be obliged to contribute to the financing of that operation.

These principles were also fully reflected in a further agreement reached by the January 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council. This agreement provided the basis for the Council to determine the financial arrangements applied in the case of the ESDP military operations run this year in FYROM and the DRC. In each case, Ireland has made a contribution to common operational costs in accordance with GNP scale, as provided for under the treaty.

The development of these financing arrangements has been positive in the sense that they will allow the EU to respond quickly to crisis management situations as the need arises. Ireland has supported the progress made to date and considers that the option selected for any possible future ESDP operation should be that which corresponds most closely to operational needs. Further proposals for the financing of such operations put forward by the current Italian Presidency, as well as those being proposed in the context of the ongoing Intergovernmental Conference of EU member states, are being approached in this light. Issues such as participation in actual missions or actual expenditure will remain for decision by national authorities. In so far as military operations are concerned, such decisions will be approached by Ireland in accordance with requirements set out in relevant national legislation concerning the need for UN endorsement, Government decision and Dáil approval.