Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I listened to all the Members who spoke with passion and emotion regarding Syria.

I am pleased to conclude these statements in advance of tomorrow’s meeting of the European Council. As the Taoiseach mentioned, I will focus my remarks on the external relations items of the European Council meeting. This is to consist of the consideration of the Dutch Government’s approach to ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, the situation in Syria and also the sanctions against Russia in regard to Ukraine.

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was finalised in 2014. All EU member states, except the Netherlands, have now ratified the agreement. There was a consultative referendum in the Netherlands last April which opposed Dutch ratification.

In order to address the concerns raised during the referendum, the Dutch Government is now seeking a decision of the Heads of State or Government of the 28 EU member states meeting as the European Council, which provides legally binding assurances. These assurances include confirmation that the agreement is not the first step to EU membership and clarification of what it does or does not entail. The decision is not seeking to alter the substance of the agreement itself.

This agreement is of vital significance and it is therefore important that a solution is found to allow the Netherlands to ratify it. Failure to do so would cast doubt on the credibility of the EU as a stable partner for countries in the eastern neighbourhood. For these reasons, we would wish the EU to be as supportive as possible and we intend to approach the matter in that spirit.

Ireland, together with its EU partners, remains very concerned at the ever-worsening situation in Syria. We have been shocked and outraged at the appalling scenes of suffering in Aleppo where the excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate use of military force constitutes a clear violation of international law, as outlined in the genuine contributions by speakers this afternoon.

Our concerns have been directly conveyed in the clearest terms to the Russian authorities, given their role as a key supporter of the Assad regime. It is disheartening to note that however the conflict mutates in the near term, there is likely to be neither improvement nor meaningful resolution in the short term.

The October European Council held a broad strategic debate on the relationship with Russia in all its aspects. It was agreed that it remains a strategic goal for Ireland and the EU to have a strong stable partnership with Russia into the future. However, we must be frank about the current realities and the situation as it presents itself today.

There has clearly been a marked deterioration in relations between Russia and the EU over the past number of years. The conflict in Ukraine has come to be the central defining issue, although there are also grave concerns over Russia’s role in the Syrian conflict.

There has been no major change in policy by Russia or any indications that it is seeking to improve its relationship with the EU. That is regrettable, but it is quite simply the fact and it cannot be ignored.

EU Foreign Ministers agreed a set of principles in March to guide our relations with Russia and these remain the guiding points for our current relationship. In line with these, Ireland believes there is merit in seeking a selective engagement with Russia on foreign policy issues and specific sectoral areas of interest to the EU. However, we are clear that any resumption of dialogue should be gradual and should be used by the EU to seek a change in Russian behaviour.

As I said, the fragile security situation and the conflict in eastern Ukraine remain of paramount importance. Two years on from the signing of the first Minsk agreements, we are still calling for a stable ceasefire.

The path for a resolution of the conflict is set out in the Minsk agreements. The EU has been very clear and consistent in linking the economic sanctions imposed in 2014 to the complete implementation of the Minsk accords. The decision to impose such measures on Russia has come with negative consequences. The EU has suffered in terms of trade volumes, but that underlines the seriousness with which the EU regards Russia’s actions in destabilising eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions are intended to encourage Russia to use its influence to help ensure the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Criteria for amending the sanctions are clear and provide the sole basis upon which future decisions and assessments are made.

We have repeatedly made clear that the EU will never recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and that has to remain an important principle in our approach.

Despite these negative elements, the EU still needs to look to its values and to act in accordance with them. For example, it is of great importance that the EU maintains its support for civil society in Russia, which continues to be vulnerable. The shrinking space for independent civil society and the ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, journalists and opponents is deeply troubling.

As I said, we desire a strong and stable relationship with Russia over the long term and that goal will once again guide our thinking at the European Council discussion this week. However, we do not expect any significant change in the EU’s approach to its relationship with Russia at the present time.

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