Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 January 2017
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the UN and EU can co-ordinate their efforts in respect of the refugee crisis arising from various conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3518/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Union is fully committed to effective multilateralism and this commitment, with the UN at its core, is a central element of the approach to external action as set out in the EU’s new Global Strategy.
The EU works closely with the UN system on the issues and challenges which face the world today, including on the migration and refugee crisis.
The UN system, notably the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organisation for Migration, which is now more closely integrated with the UN system than in the past, clearly have leading roles in addressing the crisis. In 2016 approximately one third of the contributions to UNHCR came from the EU. The EU recognises and is supportive of the work of these agencies in helping vulnerable people on the move and in assisting the EU and its Member States in meeting the needs of these people. For example the EU will contribute a total of €62 million in humanitarian funding over the 2016-2017 period to UNHCR, to support its work with the Greek government in providing protection and assistance to refugees and migrants in mainland Greece.
In broader terms, the EU and its Member States are the world’s leading providers of development and humanitarian assistance and this assistance, including through the UN system, is crucial in addressing the root causes of forced displacement. Ireland plays a strong role in policy terms, through our aid programme and through our bilateral and multilateral development assistance. The EU is also a major contributor to UN peacekeeping, and EU military capabilities play an essential role in permitting UN peace operations to engage more effectively around the world. This type of collaboration is clearly fundamental to addressing the conflicts that are at the origin of major flows of refugees and displaced people.
In addition to being a key EU partner the UN is an indispensable global forum for tackling these global challenges. Ireland, through our role as co-facilitator, played a central role in last year’s UN discussions on how to address this and similar crises in the future, in a long-term and sustainable manner. The outcome of those discussions was adopted at last September’s UN Summit on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants. The EU is now working with the rest of the international community to implement the outcome of the Summit.
