Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2020
239. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Defence the estimated projections for the increased expenditure in order to participate in the European peace facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36121/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Peace Facility was proposed by High Representative and Vice President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini, in 2018 with the aim of providing the EU with a single off-budget financing mechanism of up to €5 billion for the period of the next MFF - 2021 to 2027 and would finance a range of Common Security Defence Policy (CSDP) actions having military or defence implications.
The EPF would unite and expand the scope of two existing off-budget mechanisms, the Athena Funding Mechanism which handles the financing of common costs relating to EU military operations under the EU's common security and defence policy (CSDP), currently funded by the Department of Defence, and the African Peace Facility, which primarily supports African Union actions and is currently funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The EPF is seen as a global instrument and will, in particular, expand the geographical scope of the African Peace Facility.
While discussions are on-going at EU level to finalise the provisions of the mechanism, it is expected that this mechanism will be operational in 2021. Member States contributions to the new mechanism will be based on a gross national income (GNI) distribution key. Ireland's GNI distribution key is expected to increase in 2021 to reflect the impact of Brexit.
The Department of Defence has responsibility for the Athena Mechanism. Under the proposed EPF, funding for Athena will remain in a separate pillar within the framework of the EPF and will be expanded to account for additional costs associated with EU overseas deployments. While projected out-turn for Ireland's contribution to Athena in 2020 is approximately €1.7m we have no budget proposal from the EU for Athena for 2021 at this time.
The allocation of the €5.0bn for the period 2021 to 2027 for the EPF across assistance measures (under what was the African Peace Facility) and Athena and across each of the seven years of the MFF has not yet been determined. Also the actual drawdown of funding will be dependent on the number and scale of CSDP missions going forward, the elements of agreed common funding and agreement on the various assistance measures for partner funding. Given these variables it is not possible to provide precise details of the annual increase in costs arising from the mechanism at this time. Discussions continue in Brussels on the scope of the measure and the exact provisions and it would seem that that will be agreed before member States turn to consider the budget. There are on-going discussions here between the Departments of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to this matter.
