Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

The Minister mentioned the criteria for the European neighbourhood policy, but does he agree it might be worth reviewing these, particularly the priority given, for example, to transitions to market economy? Some of the former territories dominated by what was the Soviet Union and in the neighbourhood of Russia have seen disastrous abuses in the transition involved to the market economy from previously socialised assets. Taking Ossetia as an example, how does he envisage the balance of autonomous regions being achieved by the European Union among regions which formerly fell within the Russian sphere of influence? Ossetia, along with several other regions, enjoyed autonomous designation in Georgia under the USSR. Am I correct that the EU's definition of sovereignty considers the outer boundary of a state and ignores such forms of autonomy as might have existed? Perhaps the Minister will agree that recognising forms of autonomy is important not only along the borders of Russia but also in respect of Africa, Asia and, possibly, China-Tibet relations.

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