Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 March 2013
30. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if the EU has indicated any willingness or intention to assume responsibilities for any defence and or society issues including emergencies within member states such as shoreline, sea or air surveillance where there might be a benefit to Europe as an entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13281/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU has not indicated any intention to assume responsibilities for defence as a whole. The Common Security and Defence Policy is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and, as such, decisions of the European Council in relation to defence are reached unanimously by all Member States. This is safeguarded within the provisions of the legal guarantees, secured by Ireland and attached to the Lisbon Treaty, which clearly state that the Lisbon Treaty “does not affect the right of Ireland or any other Member State to determine the nature and volume of its defence and security expenditure and the nature of its defence capabilities”. The EU also has a very limited role with regard to society issues in relation to emergencies within Member States. Civil protection remains a national competence/responsibility for each EU Member State and, following consultations with other Government Departments with lead responsibilities in these areas, I am not aware of indications that the EU could assume responsibilities from national authorities.
In the event that a Member State’s response capacity to a natural or man-made disaster is overwhelmed, an EU Civil Protection Mechanism is in place to co-ordinate the provision by other Member States of mutual aid and support to that State. The European Commission’s only role in such an event is to co-ordinate the transport and deployment of the assistance being provided.
