Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin is often accused of being Eurosceptic. We often hear that thrown around this Chamber as an insult or a lame response to an alternative voice. We are not Eurosceptic: we believe in a partnership of European nations working towards the advancement of human rights, social justice and democratic values. What we cannot support, and will never support, is a federal militarised Europe that closes its doors to those in need and hides its face from tyranny and oppression.

The European Union stands at a crossroads as it grapples with growing global instability and the pressure from the Commission to adopt a more militarised approach to security. Europe cannot turn its focus solely towards militarisation at the expense of social justice, human rights and the pursuit of peace and democracy. If we lose sight of the objectives that make up the bedrock of the European project, everything that the Community has worked for since the Second World War will have been in vain.

Supporting global initiatives aimed at addressing climate change, poverty and inequality will always be far more effective in securing lasting peace than an arms race or military intervention. Militarisation only divides society, creating an "us versus them" mentality, and fuelling racism, nationalism and distrust. The EU should never have been about creating fortress Europe.

The Union has a unique role to play as a soft power capable of setting an example for diplomacy, human rights and sustainable development. By prioritising social justice, the EU can address the root causes of social unrest, inequality and exclusion, which are the breeding grounds of conflict and division. Programmes that reduce poverty, increase access to education and ensure fair working conditions create more resilient societies. These are the foundations upon which a lasting peace can be built, not military force or aggressive posturing.

Redirecting billions of euro into social programmes such as healthcare, education, affordable housing and clean energy would yield long-term benefits, improve the quality of life for millions of Europeans and reduce the pressures that often lead to radicalisation and conflict. The EU must reject militarisation in favour of social justice. This approach not only aligns with the European values of social solidarity, human dignity and democracy, but also offers the best chance of creating a stable, just and peaceful future for us all.

The EU has often positioned itself as a global leader on issues of peace and humanitarian aid, but it has lost sight of its founding principles of human rights, democracy and justice. Nowhere is this more plain than in the response to the plight of the Palestinian people. The European Union's credibility has been severely undermined by its failure to effectively aid Palestinians in the face of ongoing violence and genocide.

Its response to the Palestinian plight has been one of bland statements and diplomatic posturing rather than meaningful intervention. In recent years and decades Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank have led to widespread death, displacement and suffering among Palestinians with little or no account from the EU. The Union has repeatedly called for a ceasefire but has failed to take concrete action to curb the violence or hold Israel accountable for breaches of international law. Worse still, the Palestinians are painted as the cause of their own suffering. Meanwhile Palestinians face years of systemic oppression, dispossession and denial of human rights. Now they face ethnic cleansing and genocide. This inaction is morally and politically indefensible. By prioritising trade relations with Israel over human rights, the EU has alienated itself from its core values and lost the trust of both European and global citizens who view its passivity as complicity.

If the EU is to remain as a credible advocate for peace and justice, it must confront the realities of the situation in Palestine and actively support the protection of Palestinian lives and rights. The EU was founded to prevent war not to prepare for it. By leading with diplomacy, justice and humanitarian aid, the EU can be a global example of peaceful leadership. A safer, fairer and inclusive world starts with respecting and protecting the rights of all people. That is the Europe in which Ireland should be a leader and not a follower.

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