H.E. Mr. Vincent Gu?rend:

The strategic compass is a very important document and very much fit for purpose. We are very happy with this outcome. Again, it is based on shared analysis and it is a roadmap with very concrete steps to move forward. On this basis, Europe should first continue to have a shared analysis of its environment. It is not just about the French with the Sahel, the Greeks with Turkey and the Poles with Ukraine; it should be a process that we enter together. That is happening now.

We should have the proper tools, specifically the proper defence equipment. There is even more thinking and money going into the European Defence Agency and, as members know, more money coming from the EU budget to research into defence in order to increase our European capacities. We should use these rapid deployment elements to be able to act on the ground with military troops whenever that is needed. Much progress has been made on this over the past 20 years but we are not completely there yet in terms of the ability to intervene. It is fair to say the extreme difficulty we had in Kabul in August in evacuating our staff was a big wake-up call.

That is the direction of travel. All member states that are willing to participate are, of course, very much welcome. Ireland has so far been an active contributor, with limited caveats expressed in the declaration and through the Lisbon treaty accession. As I keep saying, it is really for the Irish debate to take place at its own pace on whether the country should see an evolution of its neutrality stance when it comes to the certain limitations in the engagement with EU defence. The more this is integrated and the more members will fully participate, the better.

On the UK and the very regrettable developments of the past couple of days, as I have said we are fully behind the Commission. Senator Chambers also mentioned the need to have a strategic approach to the UK, which is a close neighbour and important player. It is a country with which we want to have the best relationship. We did not want Brexit, as members have repeated. We want the best relationship possible with Britain, and that is important, but we cannot just let one partner violate the rules without any consequence. We will have to see what occurs as this draft law progresses in the British Parliament, ultimately becoming law, how we can raise our concern, our voice and ultimately take some action to draw a line. Again, we fully support the Commission and in solidarity with Ireland on this. We very much follow Ireland on this and we are liaising very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Taoiseach on it.