Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late but I was in the Dáil dealing with a Topical Issue.

I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for his detailed presentation. I welcome and support the association agreements. The Minister clearly outlined the potential of the agreements to deepen and broaden relationships with our neighbours in the European Union. Is there a timeline for the ratification of the association agreements by all 28 member states? Is the coming into force of the provisions of the association agreements dependent on each member state having ratified the association agreements? The Minister stated these agreements "will lead towards the gradual economic integration of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine with the EU Internal Market in selected areas." If one is a participant in the EU Internal Market, how many steps is that away from accession to the European Union? I presume one is well on the way to working one's way through the accession process if one can participate in the Internal Market, which is a cornerstone of the European Union?

We had the opportunity to have a worthwhile discussion with the new High Representative. I mentioned the concern about the working of the Eastern Partnership during the past number of years, which could have been more effective. The Eastern Partnership has not built the relationships that are needed with our neighbouring countries.

There are widespread concerns about relations between Ukraine, the EU and Russia. Is the issue of trade sanctions and EU-Russia relations included in each meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council? We are aware of the knock-on effects on sectors in our own country, particularly agriculture, of the sanctions imposed on European exports to Russia. This is an issue we need to address at the earliest opportunity.