Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
190. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has outlined the Irish position on the move by the EU to qualified majority voting with regard to the EU and foreign policy to the EU Commission (details supplied). [30046/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is strongly supportive of efforts to develop a more coherent, effective and strategic EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. The Member States of the EU can be most influential in addressing the increasingly complex and protracted crises the world faces today when they act and speak in unison.
If the EU is to successfully promote its founding values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights in matters of foreign policy, it needs to be able to use all the instruments at its disposal in a strategic and agile manner. This is particularly true in the current geopolitical environment, where, regrettably, these values are being challenged and undermined with ever greater frequency.
In this context, consideration has been given in EU discussions to extension of the use of qualified majority voting (QMV). As stated in Article 31 (3) of the Treaty on European Union (commonly referred to as the passarelle clause), the extension of the use of QMV in matters of EU Common Foreign and Security Policy would have to be agreed unanimously by the European Council. Unanimous support for such a decision does not currently exist within the European Union. In certain limited circumstances, as outlined in Article 31 (2) of the Treaty on European Union, there is already scope for the Council to act by QMV in matters of EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.
I should stress that QMV will of course never be our preference for the adoption of Common Foreign and Security Policy actions, not least to ensure that the full weight of EU Member States is behind any decisions we take. Ireland will continue to advocate for all Member States to demonstrate flexibility, solidarity and unity in the adoption of timely and appropriate measures, in order to allow for the EU to act in support of its core principles, interests and values.
