Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the state of EU-Zimbabwe relations at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30807/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The EU's restrictive measures against Zimbabwe were initially imposed in February 2002 and were renewed for a further twelve months in February 2006. The restrictive measures involve a travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo and are very much targeted at the leading members of the ZANU-PF government, and not at the people of Zimbabwe. The EU has also suspended its development cooperation with Zimbabwe, although certain types of cooperation involving the provision of basic services are exempted, with a view to avoiding an adverse effect on the population.

Within Zimbabwe itself, the overall political, economic and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Inflation in Zimbabwe is now estimated to be 1200%, the highest in the world, while unemployment is estimated to be around 80%. There continue to be severe food shortages in the country, with over one million people currently requiring sustained food assistance. The dire political and economic conditions have led to large-scale immigration, with at least 2 million Zimbabweans now judged to be living illegally in South Africa.

There is at yet no indication that the Zimbabwean government is willing to alter the policies which have brought about this situation or introduce those democratic and economic reforms long called for by the international community and which, if introduced, would positively influence EU-Zimbabwe relations. On the contrary, we have seen increased repression, with large-scale arrests of peaceful demonstrators and credible reports of trade union leaders being seriously ill-treated in police detention last month. There is also no evidence of serious efforts by the Zimbabwean government to re-house the many hundreds of thousands of people left homeless, following Operation Murambatsvina launched in May 2005.

It is clear that international pressure needs to be maintained on the Mugabe government to alter its current policies. Ireland and our EU partners are determined to continue working with others in the international community, including our partners in Africa who can exert particular influence, to help promote democratic change in Zimbabwe. I discussed the current situation in Zimbabwe with the South African Foreign Minister in New York on 25 September and urged South Africa to continue its efforts to influence the situation positively. EU Ambassadors in Zimbabwe, including Ireland's, are also maintaining contact with all those within Zimbabwean society who may be in a position to influence positive change.

The Government is also continuing to make available humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. Since 2004 Ireland has committed over €13 million in aid to Zimbabwe, including €3.7 million this year to address emergency needs. The largest proportion of this funding is for immediate humanitarian needs, particularly the provision of food assistance. Ireland is also providing funding to mitigate the impact of the HIV/Aids pandemic in Zimbabwe which is estimated to infect 25% of the population. Earlier this year Ireland approved a new programme of funding for HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe amounting to €7.5m over the years 2006-2008.