Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Our strategy includes an exchange of students. A number of students are currently here doing masters degrees through that agreement. However, as I said from the outset, taking it in broad terms, building relations with this area is vulnerable to other forces coming in. The EU has an obligation to work with Latin America and the Caribbean states to strengthen our relationships there and to promote human rights at every opportunity. The EU has a record, as does the Council of Europe which fosters stronger ties to ensure the rights of individual citizens in those countries are upheld. At every turn we promote that with our bilateral relationships. Second, the financial aid we provide to those countries is quite significant. In 2021 and 2022 we provided €2.5 million in funding to Venezuela through the UN agencies in direct support. Obviously we have been to the forefront in all those countries that are suffering human rights issues and in calling that out in some regimes and looking for free and fair elections in other jurisdictions.

It is a big challenge but how do we work to unlock that challenge? My belief is dialogue is important, working with these countries, strengthening relationships, having more high-level visits as I have referenced and really trying to work to improve relations and provide funding through the UN. As I said, being very new to this job, when I was in the UN in February I could see so many countries that are more vulnerable looking for a watered-down resolution. Accountability was referenced for Russia. Trying to build stronger coalitions and get over the 140 barrier has been a huge challenge. That opens our eyes as a whole European Union to how hard we have to work with countries in this regard.