Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the development of the African Union; his views on such assistance as may be appropriate from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7729/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The African Union represents an important strategic partner for the European Union and one with whom ever closer relations are being forged in the interests of promoting peace, security, democracy and development on the African continent.

The institutional development of the African Union has been impressive since its formal establishment in July 2002 as the successor organisation to the Organisation of African Unity, OAU. In particular the AU Peace and Security Council, PSC, which was established in May 2004 has demonstrated real leadership and evidence of Africa's resolve in tackling conflicts on the continent. Under the direction of the PSC the African Union is performing a vital and effective role in tackling conflicts such as those in Darfur and Côte d'Ivoire.

The African Union is also living up to its commitment to promote respect for democracy and good governance on the continent. A pan-African parliament has been established while it is also intended to establish an African court on human and people's rights. The AU has also not hesitated to impose sanctions in cases of breach of constitutional order, most recently in Togo where its action along with that of ECOWAS, the West African regional organisation, proved effective in forcing Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had unconstitutionally assumed office on 6 February 2005 following the death of his father, former President Eyadema, to stand down and agree to the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in accordance with international standards.

The African Union is also contributing notably to the political and socio-economic integration of the African continent principally through the NEPAD, New Programme for African Development, initiative which has now been adopted as the socio-economic programme of the AU. Also, an economic, social and cultural council is due to be established in April 2005. NEPAD is an important African led initiative which aims at eradicating poverty and placing African countries on a path of sustainable growth and development. It also promotes good political and economic governance through its African peer review mechanism under which progress in these areas in individual African countries is closely scrutinised and reported on by a distinguished panel of eminent Africans. Ireland along with EU and other donor countries remains strongly supportive of the NEPAD initiative. Ireland has contributed €300,000 in support of the NEPAD secretariat.

The EU's relations with the African Union were notably enhanced during the period of Ireland's EU Presidency culminating in a highly successful ministerial troika meeting in Farmleigh on 1 April 2004 where agreements on effective multilateralism and Africa's external debt were adopted. The Irish Presidency also saw the establishment of the African Peace Facility under which a total of €250 million is made available from the European Development Fund to assist with AU or African led peace support missions and in strengthening the capacity of the AU secretariat and other African sub-regional organisations for conflict prevention and resolution. Substantial EU assistance amounting to some €92 million has been provided to the AU mission in Darfur, AMIS, through the African Peace Facility while a further €25 million was made available in support of the former AU mission in Burundi. Ireland has also provided considerable financial support to both these missions amounting to some €1 million in 2004. The EU and its member states have also made available military observers and planning experts to assist the AMIS mission including one military observer from Ireland who is currently serving in Darfur. Close ongoing cooperation is being maintained between the EU and AU regarding the AMIS mission and the EU stands ready to provide any further assistance that may be requested. Further requests for assistance from the African Peace Facility can also be anticipated in respect of planned AU missions in Somalia and possibly, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC.

Considerable practical and logistical assistance is also been made available by the EU to the African Union and other sub-regional organisations involved with conflict prevention and resolution within the framework of the ESDP with the External Relations Council adopting a specific action plan for ESDP support to African peace keeping capacity building in November 2004.

Institutional ties between the EU and AU and their respective Commissions are also being developed with close ongoing cooperation between EU and AU representatives in both Addis Ababa and Brussels aimed at establishing a permanent dialogue to improve political and economic understanding and cooperation. The EU Commission plans to provide €50 million to improve the effectiveness and operational capacity of the AU's institutions and enhance the participation of African civil society in the work of the AU. Arrangements are now being made for the accreditation of EU ambassadors to the African Union and it is hoped that the Government will shortly be in a position to agree to accreditation of the Irish Charge d'Affaires in Addis Ababa to act as Irish representative to the AU.