Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Vice Chairman. It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon. I acknowledge the members of the diplomatic corps who are here this afternoon and who always have great engagement in the operations of the committee.

As the Vice Chairman correctly stated, I will brief the committee on the agenda for next week's meeting of the General Affairs Council, GAC. I will also touch on the country-specific recommendations, which were published by the Commission yesterday. Finally, as it is of particular interest to the committee, I will say a few words about the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

First, I will turn to the meeting of the General Affairs Council on 19 May. Ministers will consider two key issues: follow-up to the special European Council meeting of 23 April on migration; and initial preparations for the next meeting of the European Council, which takes place on 25-26 June. In addition, Ministers will receive an update on a report on EMU reform, which is being prepared by the Presidents of the Commission, Euro summit, the ECB and the Eurogroup – the so-called four Presidents – and which is scheduled for presentation to the June European Council.

The first item on the GAC agenda is follow-up to the extraordinary meeting of the European Council in April. As the committee will be aware, that meeting was convened in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, which has seen so many migrants lose their lives in tragic circumstances. I am aware this committee held a special session on migration the following week, which was attended by the Italian ambassador, the UN Special Representative for Migration and International Development and the chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland and that it is following these events closely. Across the Union also, people have been shocked and horrified by the loss of life as migrants risk everything to reach European shores. The immediate priority for the EU, its member states and third countries must be to better protect those in need and to save innocent lives.

The EU has acted swiftly since the situation began to worsen a month ago. The first step was a special joint session of the Foreign Affairs and Justice and Home Affairs Councils on 20 April, at which Ministers endorsed a ten-point action plan in response to the crisis. This meeting was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. Three days later, Heads of State and Government assembled in Brussels for a special meeting of the European Council. At this meeting, a statement was adopted which set out commitments to try to stop human smugglers, strengthen the EU's naval presence in the Mediterranean, prevent illegal migration and reinforce solidarity and responsibility within the Union. Shortly afterwards, the European Parliament adopted a strong resolution of its own, in which MEPs underlined the need for the Union to do more. Clearly, there is real unity of purpose across the Union when it comes to tackling serious problems with respect to migration. The focus now is on ensuring that the commitments set out at the European Council are backed by concrete action. The General Affairs Council will review progress so far and look ahead to the next steps.

One key priority is the ramping-up of search and rescue efforts in the Mediterranean, in accordance with the welcome commitment made by member states to triple the budget for naval operations run by the EU's border agency, Frontex. Another is targeting and dismantling criminal smuggling networks that operate in and around north Africa, and which are directly responsible for so much of the misery and suffering. There is also a pressing need, as highlighted by the European Council, to enhance our co-operation with third states.

The Commission and Latvian EU Presidency are together monitoring implementation of the commitments set out in the European Council statement and will jointly update Ministers at the General Affairs Council meeting. The Commission yesterday also adopted an ambitious European agenda on migration and I expect this will also contribute to a discussion at the General Affairs Council. We will need time to study this document but I am sure it will provide an important input.

Let me briefly draw attention also to two particular national contributions Ireland is making to the humanitarian effort. First, the Government has agreed this week to deploy an Irish naval vessel, the LE Eithne, to the Mediterranean to assist the Italian authorities in humanitarian search and rescue operations. Secondly, we have pledged additional financial assistance of €2 million to support those affected by the crisis in Syria, where a large percentage of refugees and migrants originate. This brings the Government’s humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis to €41 million over the past four years.

There is no easy solution to the hardship and human suffering we are witnessing on Europe’s southern shores. However, with the special meeting of the European Council in April and the issue scheduled for discussion by the European Council again in June, it is clear that migration is now at the top of the Union’s political agenda. I can assure members that Ireland will continue to play an active and determined role in the EU response.

The second issue to be considered by the General Affairs Council will be preparations for the June meeting of the European Council, with a focus on the draft agenda. At first glance, the agenda of the June European Council might seem reasonably compact with just two items - security challenges and economic issues. However, in reality, this disguises what is likely to be one of the fullest European Council agendas for some time.

I turn first to the security challenges. A key priority for Heads of State and Government will be to review implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP. Previous orientations provided by the European Council in December 2013 addressed three key areas: increasing the effectiveness of CSDP; the development and provision of capabilities to support CSDP; and improving the ability of EU industry to provide those capabilities.

Next month’s meeting of the European Council will review progress in implementing the December 2013 conclusions. Good progress has been achieved on many fronts. A maritime security strategy and action plan for its implementation was agreed in 2014, as was an EU cyber defence policy framework. In the context of the European Defence Agency, a policy framework for long-term and systematic co-operation was approved by Ministers. Since December 2013, four new CSDP operations have been launched: one in Ukraine, two in the Central African Republic and one in Mali.

The European Council is also expected to address areas where further progress is required, such as financing of EU missions and operations, development of military capabilities, and the further development of the EU’s partnership policy with multilateral organisations, including the UN, NATO and OSCE. It is also anticipated that High Representative,Federica Mogherini, will seek approval from Heads of State and Government to begin preparing a new European security strategy. The new strategy will assess the impact of the changing nature of the global environment on the EU, as well as threats posed by international terrorism, serious and organised crime, human trafficking and cyber security.

The European Council will return to address the latest developments in Ukraine and, specifically, to consider whether to extend the timeframe for existing economic sanctions against Russia. Some of these sanctions are due to expire in July. At the March European Council, it was agreed that the duration of the current sanctions should be clearly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is foreseen by 31 December 2015.

Tragic events since the start of the year have also focused the attention of the European Council on threats within the European Union’s own borders. The European Council will review progress on implementation of the EU’s counter-terrorism agenda. This includes a number of different strands, such as tackling the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, countering terrorist content on the Internet, improving international co-operation and information sharing, including through the operation of an EU passenger name record directive, and constructive engagement with third states, notably, Turkey, which is the main gateway for foreign fighters into Syria. As previously referenced, migration will also feature prominently in European Council discussions, with Heads of State and Government reviewing progress and considering further steps.

The agenda item on economic issues provides an equal diversity of topics for the European Council to consider. Very welcome from an Irish perspective will be a focus on the digital single market, with the European Council expected to outline next steps following presentation of the Commission’s strategy on 6 May. The strategy sets out 16 key actions to be delivered by the end of 2016 under three key pillars: simplifying access for consumers and business, creating the right conditions for digital networks and services to flourish, and maximising the growth potential of the digital economy. Ireland supports a high level of ambition for a fully functioning digital single market that is both open and competitive. This would represent a win-win proposition for both consumers and SMEs, who will benefit more than multinationals in these circumstances.

The European Council will also be invited to endorse country-specific recommendations, CSRs,published yesterday,to guide member states in their structural reforms, employment policies and national budgets. I will say a few words about Ireland’s CSRs shortly.

The European Council will return to the question of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP, and review progress since its most recent discussion in March. The ninth round of negotiations took place in late April in New York with technical discussions on tariffs and procurement. Discussions on other barriers to trade have been advancing and the basis architecture of the agreement is developing. Both sides have affirmed their commitment to reaching an ambitious agreement as soon as possible, noting that TTIP will create jobs and growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

Also under economic issues, the European Council will consider the report to be presented by the four Presidents on better economic governance in the euro area. Member state perspectives have been shared via official-level representatives of Heads of State and Government – the Sherpa network – and Ministers will take stock of developments at next week’s General Affairs Council. While a limited number of member states would prefer a more ambitious report, pointing, for example, towards common institutions, an EU fiscal capacity or binding reform contracts, Ireland and many other member states have underlined the importance of first fully implementing all existing EU instruments. This includes the existing economic governance framework, including the macroeconomic imbalances procedure and banking union.

Finally on the June European Council, I would flag the possibility of Prime Minister Cameron setting out his thinking on aspects of the UK relationship with the EU, including where he will wish to target reforms. His intentions in this regard may become clearer in the coming weeks.

Overall, Ireland is pleased with the draft agenda for the European Council as currently presented. It addresses many issues of strategic importance for Ireland and for the Union as a whole. Ireland will, as always, contribute actively and constructively to the preparations for the European Council, and I look forward to my own role in this regard, both at next week’s General Affairs Council and again at the June General Affairs Council.

The committee asked for a brief update following the publication yesterday of proposed country-specific recommendations. The Commission is generally proposing fewer, more focused CSRs when compared to last year. Ireland has been given four draft CSRs, covering the areas of public finances, health care reforms, work intensity of households, and sustainable mortgage and SME debt solutions. The committee will note the continuity with issues highlighted by the Commission last year. There were no surprises when the CSRs were published yesterday. As I said, we were given four CSRs instead of seven. Officials from relevant Departments are now giving careful consideration to the four draft CSRs and the underlying analysis with a view to providing a response to the Commission. For the semester process to be effective, it is important that it be based on sound analysis and that there be a real partnership between the member states and the Commission. The draft CSRs will be considered in the coming weeks by relevant Councils before endorsement at the June European Council.

I should add that Commissioner Moscovici will be in Dublin on 26 May and is due to meet the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, under the chairmanship of Deputy Liam Twomey, to discuss the European Semester issues. Earlier that day, I will be joining the Commissioner at an Institute of International and European Affairs event focused on the Irish CSRs. I am, of course, happy to hear any views the committee might have on the draft CSRs at any stage.

Before concluding, I would like to turn to the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This issue was raised by the committee at our meeting before the March General Affairs Council, and I have since written to the Chairman on the subject. I can confirm that the April General Affairs Council adopted conclusions expressing grave concern regarding the deteriorating situation in the country, particularly in the area of rule of law, fundamental rights and freedom of the media. The Council also urged all sides to constructively engage to restart political dialogue and restore trust in the institutions. I was deeply disturbed by developments in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia last weekend, which saw heavily armed militants clash with the police and army and, sadly, more than 22 people killed. The events took place in Kumanovo, which is near the border with Kosovo and Serbia. Commissioner Hahn made a statement in the immediate aftermath of the events, calling on “the authorities and all political and community leaders to cooperate, to restore calm and fully investigate the events in an objective and transparent manner”. I fully support that call. I can also assure the committee that the EU will continue to encourage all efforts to bring about stability in the region.

We have a busy few weeks ahead in the run-up to what is likely to be a pivotal meeting of the European Council in June. I look forward to bringing the committee up to date on the preparations and on Irish Government perspectives when we meet again next month. I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for their time.