Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As my colleague, An Teachta Adams, indicated, this European Council meeting will to a large extent focus on the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP. The European Council will focus on reports aimed at laying out how the European Union can extend its influence through increased militarisation, although I suppose it will be couched in softer and more diplomatic language. It is clear that supporters of this increased militarisation fear that the financial crisis will have an impact on the European defence industry and, due to the financial constraints, no EU member state, except perhaps Germany, can launch major new militarisation programmes alone. While children and families across Europe are going hungry, EU member states are spending €194 billion on weapons. I want to see a reduction in this spending and I ask whether the Taoiseach shares that view. Defenders of the arms industry will say that it employs 800,000 people in the EU but, according to independent research, a euro invested in education or public transport creates twice as many jobs as one invested in the arms industry. The research also suggests that state investment in military spending, as well as being wrong, is one of the least effective ways of creating jobs.

There have been some military spending cuts since the financial crisis hit the European Union, but the reductions have been focused on personnel cuts, such as reductions in troop numbers, recruitment freezes, lower pay and decreased pension contributions. Four EU member states are still among the top 11 countries globally for military spending.

This State stands out due to its significantly low level of military expenditure, approximately 0.6% of GDP. It is a record we should be proud of and continue to build on. Ireland's level of spending is relatively low because of its historical refusal to become a full member of NATO. The big worry, of course, is that if the Government continues to undermine our neutrality and eventually erases it altogether, our military spending will increase significantly in order to bring the Defence Forces up to NATO standards.

It is time to stop putting defence lobbyists' needs above those of citizens. This European Council meeting should be a summit for peace, not for arms lobbyists. The Taoiseach stated in his speech, "We will be seeking to maintain a strong focus on enhancing the effectiveness of CSDP tomorrow," but what exactly will he be looking for? Is it more intervention in conflicts? Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Donohoe, will focus on that in his reply.

Hard-pressed citizens right across the European Union are hoping against hope for real job creation programmes and more health care projects and social protection schemes, yet the worry many have is that the EU leaders will meet to listen to and address complaints about the lack of military spending. I wish I had the eloquence or ability to convince the Taoiseach and others to oppose this further militarisation of the European Union in the form of calls for increased military spending and moves to create what is effectively an EU army.

Will the issue of tax evasion by EU-based multinational corporations be discussed at this Council meeting? A report released on Monday last by the Brussels-based development NGO European Network on Debt and Development, Eurodad, states that developing countries lose between €660 billion and €870 billion each year mainly in the form of tax evasion by these corporations. This is a significant issue which needs to be challenged urgently. EU citizens are donating money to combat poverty in developing countries, through Government aid programmes and private donations, yet EU-based multinationals are turning large profits in the same countries without paying taxes. It does not make sense. This tax evasion undermines the socioeconomic development potential and progress of developing countries. For example, developing countries face funding shortfalls of €112 billion annually in terms of meeting the United Nations' 2015 development goals, and plugging this tax evasion could go a long way towards helping these countries to fix this. Until the issue is tackled by EU leaders, Europe will continue to give to developing countries with one hand while taking with the other. Will the Taoiseach raise these matters at the Council meeting?

The European Union is continuing to press ahead with a fishing partnership agreement with Morocco. Sadly, the European Parliament voted in favour of this agreement last week; however, it faced strong opposition, including from my party colleague Ms Martina Anderson MEP and the GUE/NGL group in the Parliament. This new fisheries protocol with Morocco will reward Morocco for its aggression and its violation of the guaranteed human rights of the Saharawi people - violations that have been documented by credible and independent international human rights organisations. The partnership also gives a form of legitimisation to Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara, a forceful annexation that the EU and its member states have never approved or legally recognised. As an occupying power, Morocco has no right whatsoever to exploit the natural resources of the occupied territories of Western Sahara or to enter into agreements with third parties concerning those resources. It also undermines attempts by the EU and other regional actors to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in that area.

I am running out of time, but I want to refer to Ukraine. We all accept that there are difficulties there. On Monday, EU foreign Ministers and Russia's foreign Minister, Mr. Sergei Lavrov, failed to find common ground on the issue. Yesterday, Ukraine's president opted for a strong no-strings-attached Russian bailout instead of the EU alternative. Russia has the power to literally switch off heat and gas in the region as it faces into winter. I do not know whether the EU negotiators had factored this in. Clearly, there is a geopolitical stand-off in the region, with the Ukrainian people caught right in the middle. We need to step back and let common sense prevail. The countries in the EU's partnership have the potential to become a bridge between the EU and Russia. It is important that the European Union does not put these countries in an impossible position because of the growing tensions. I would be interested in hearing from the Minister of State the position Ireland will take at the Council meeting.

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