Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
23 January 2013
Presidency Priorities
Tánaiste’s Address
Introduction
I am very happy to have the opportunity to brief the Committee today on Ireland’s Presidency Priorities in the foreign policy area.
By way of introduction, I would like to refer briefly to our overall Presidency Priorities before focusing more specifically on the areas of particular interest to this Committee.
As you are aware, our Presidency programme is built around the core priorities of Stability, Jobs and Growth. The Irish Presidency will be that of a recovery country driving recovery in Europe. We will aim at restoring stability through effective implementation of the Banking Union proposals and economic governance measures, such as the European Semester process.
We will push ahead with legislation across the Union’s agenda that can stimulate jobs and growth. We will focus strongly on promoting the digital economy.
We will support the President of the European Council in securing agreement on a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020. An adequate MFF is essential to underpin Europe’s economic recovery, future growth and social cohesion.
While our official Presidency programme sets out in detail the legislative and other priorities across all formations of the Council, the main priorities can be summarised as follows:
- Securing Stability
- Investing in sustainable jobs and growth
- Europe and the World, in particular the importance of looking beyond our borders and engaging with global partners
It is on the third priority that I propose to focus here today.
Common Foreign and Security Policy
While this is Ireland’s 7th EU Presidency, it is the first in the post-Lisbon era.
As you know, the Lisbon Treaty architecture has meant important changes to the role of the rotating Presidency in relation to foreign policy. Essentially, the Presidency now plays a supporting rather than a leading role in the external representation of the EU.
A key objective for our Presidency is to actively support the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and the European External Action Service in responding to current foreign policy and security challenges.
We expect the ongoing crisis in Syria, tensions across the wider Middle East, the Iranian nuclear dossier and instability in Africa to continue to feature prominently on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council in the first half of 2013.
MEPP
Support for the Middle East Process is, as you know, a key priority for Ireland nationally.
I would hope to see the Foreign Affairs Council follow up as a matter of urgency on its Conclusions of last May, which looked in particular at the implications of Israel’s settlements policy for the achievement of the “two-state solution”.
We have also been emphasizing for some time past the need for the EU to adopt a higher profile in pursuing overall political progress in relation to the Middle East peace process. We will continue to pursue this in the coming months on the Council.
Syria
The situation in Syria is a source of deep concern to all of us. President Assad’s speech on 6th January was extremely dispiriting. It offered nothing to the Syrian people in terms of ending the violence and repression and the long nightmare inflicted on them..
The priority for all in the international community must be to bring about an end to the violence and to promote an overall political settlement leading to genuine change and transition.
The EU has been very active in highlighting the appalling human rights situation within Syria and making the case for accountability. It has also contributed substantively to urgent humanitarian efforts. Ireland has joined with 25 other Member States in endorsing a letter by the Swiss Mission in New York to the President of the SECCO formally asking for a referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Iran
In relation to the Iranian nuclear issue, Ireland is fully supportive of the twin-track approach (i.e., negotiations combined with sanctions) which is being pursued by High Representative Ashton on behalf of the “E3 plus 3” (France, Germany, UK, US, Russia, China).
It is very much in Iran’s interests to engage seriously in the negotiation process and to address the very real international concerns which exist. I hope that we will see a more positive Iranian attitude in the next round of negotiations which is likely to be held in the coming weeks.
Mali
I expect that developments in Mali, the wider Sahel region and North Africa will be a key focus for the Foreign Affairs Council in the period ahead.
The convening of an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council last week in Brussels, in response to the rapidly evolving situation on the ground, highlights the seriousness with which the EU views the situation in Mali. It supports rapid deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2085, and it has committed to providing swift financial assistance to the Mission. The EU also formally adopted a Decision on 17 January to establish the European Union Training Mission (EUTM Mali), which will be responsible for providing the Malian Armed Forces with military training and advice. The mission is now expected to be launched by mid-February at the latest.
Human Rights/HRC
As Presidency, Ireland will work to promote implementation of the EU’s external human rights strategy, as set out in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy which was adopted on 25 June 2012. Particular elements of the EU Action Plan which I hope will be achieved in the next few months include the adoption of EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the development of new EU Guidelines on the Rights of LGBT persons.
I am pleased that the EU’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, will be visiting Ireland next month and that he will meet with this Committee during his visit.
Ireland is also committed to working for more effective EU action at multilateral level on human rights issues. This will apply in particular at the UN Human Rights Council, to which, as you know, Ireland was elected for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 2013. As a member state of the Council, we will be fully supportive of the work of the European External Action Service and will help the EU to advocate effectively and coherently for the robust protection of human rights.
As High Representative Ashton has put it, human rights are the “silver thread” running through Europe’s foreign policy. We will work to ensure that the EU upholds its commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, despite the difficult financial circumstances which prevail at present. These values are central to Ireland’s foreign policy and they will be central to our Presidency.
Disarmament
The promotion of arms control through a strong international rule of law is another key foreign policy priority for Ireland -- and a further area in which we hope to provide support and encouragement for the EU’s work.
One of the major issues facing the international community during our Presidency will be the negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which will take place in New York from 18-28 March. Ireland believes that a strong, comprehensive and legally-binding Treaty is urgently needed, one which will prohibit irresponsible arms dealing and will further curb the illicit and “grey” markets in conventional arms. At the negotiations in March, we will press for strong provisions on human rights, international law and gender-based violence. I hope also that it will be possible to include ammunition within the scope of the Treaty. As with all diplomatic negotiations, and particularly Treaty negotiations, a lot remains to be agreed. However, I believe that, with goodwill and the genuine engagement of all, a successful outcome is possible.
The Second Preparatory Committee meeting in the 2015 review cycle for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will take place in late April and early May in Geneva. That meeting will assess the progress made to date in implementing the 2010 NPT Action Plan. It will also give States Parties an opportunity to begin to look at possible outcomes for the next Review Conference, in 2015. As this review cycle proceeds, Ireland will look increasingly to the nuclear weapons states to demonstrate that they are serious about fulfilling their commitments to disarm. As the UN Secretary General pointed out just last week, the nuclear disarmament process is falling behind, and the nuclear-armed states bear a special responsibility in correcting this.
We will watch very closely developments in relation to the proposed Helsinki Conference on a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction. We hope that further preparatory consultations in Geneva in the coming weeks will make it possible for the co-conveners to hold the conference within the first half of this year. We fully support the Finnish facilitator in his ongoing work towards the conference.
We will also have in April a Review Conference -- the third – in relation to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Ireland will act as EU coordinator for the preparations for this Conference in The Hague, where the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is located. Despite the considerable success to date of the CWC, as recent threats from the Assad regime in Syria demonstrate, we can never assume complacently that these weapons will not fall into the hands of non state actors or that they will never again be used as a battlefield weapon. For this reason, it is important to ensure that the Convention continues to function effectively. The Review Conference will be an important event in that context.
Conflict prevention/ mediation
Ireland has an established track record in the area of conflict prevention and we would like to see a reinforcement of capacity for this purpose at EU level. Building on our successful chairmanship of the OSCE last year and on our national experience of conflict resolution in the Northern Ireland peace process, we have plans to highlight this issue in various ways during our Presidency of the EU.
UN – Effective Multilateralism
Ireland has always been a strong advocate of an efficient and effective UN. In recent years there has been ever closer cooperation between the EU and the UN in areas such as peacekeeping. The EU also plays a critical role in the development agenda at the UN. As Presidency, we will work for stronger EU-UN relations, especially in the area of crisis management and peace support operations, and we will work to ensure that the EU speaks with one voice in international negotiations.
Enlargement Priorities
I know that this Committee takes a keen interest in developments in the Western Balkans.
Enlargement is a key priority for the Irish Presidency, and we will work to facilitate and advance the process for all candidates and prospective candidates. The Presidency will prioritise a credible enlargement policy based on the principle of conditionality. We commend the great efforts of the Cypriot Presidency in advancing this agenda.
Ireland will oversee consideration of the final monitoring report on Croatia and we expect to see Croatia ready to join the Union on 1 July 2013. For those countries currently in negotiations, the Presidency will work further to advance the ongoing accession negotiations with Iceland. We will seek to open one or two Chapters with Montenegro and push for progress on the rule of law Chapters - 23 & 24. Progress on Turkey’s accession will depend on the willingness of all parties, EU Member States and Turkey, to facilitate this. We are hoping to open at least one Chapter, if that proves possible.
For candidate countries that have not yet begun the negotiation process, we welcomed the inclusion of the “rendezvous” paragraphs in the December Council Conclusions, which proposed returning in the first half of 2013 to the possibility of opening accession negotiations for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and for Serbia. We stand ready to progress these areas during our Presidency, should the Council so decide.
As regards prospective candidates (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo), the December Council Conclusions proposed returning in the first half of 2013 to consideration of the possibility of granting candidate status to Albania, and of opening Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Kosovo. Both countries need to deliver on a number of outstanding reforms. Their progress in achieving these will be reported on by the Commission and the High Representative.
Ireland is supportive of agreeing to grant candidate status to Albania following a positive report from the Commission, and we are hopeful it may be possible to consider this during our Presidency. Ireland also supports the negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo and we will do our best to progress this during our Presidency, should the Council so decide.
Ireland is supportive of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective; however, the Bosnian Government and political leaders must make real and sustained progress in order to realise this. While we will not have a direct role to play in the EU’s relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina during our Presidency – this is now the responsibility of High Representative Ashton and the European External Action Service – we will nevertheless do everything in our power to encourage movement on the path to EU integration.