Written answers

Thursday, 17 April 2008

Department of Defence

European Defence Agency

5:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Defence the nature and role of the European Defence Agency when Ireland joined, in view of the forthcoming Constitutional referendum on the Lisbon Reform Treaty; the changes in Ireland's role in the agency that would result from the passage of the treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/08]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July, 2004, "to support the Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future." Among the Agency's aims is to support Member States in the area of capability development, to overcome deficiencies and to support greater efficiencies in the European defence equipment market.

The Agency is ascribed four functions, relating to:

Defence capabilities development;

Armaments cooperation;

The European defence, technological and industrial base and defence equipment market;

Research & Technology

The Agency is an important forum by which the EU can seek to improve competitiveness and efficiency in the defence equipment sector which has, heretofore, suffered from fragmentation and duplication. While Ireland is not a major consumer of defence equipment, I believe that we should encourage developments which improve market efficiencies or which may yield economies of scale for equipment procurement for the Defence Forces.

To this end, on 6 July, 2004, the Government agreed that Ireland would participate in the framework of the Agency. Participation in the framework of the Agency does not impose any specific obligations or commitments on Ireland other than a contribution to the budget of the Agency. Participation in individual projects of the Agency is a matter for national decision on a case-by-case basis. National contributions to the budget are calculated on the basis of the GNI (Gross National Income) scale.

The Reform Treaty, in Articles 1.49(c) and 1.50, confirms the principal functions of the European Defence Agency, in line with the provisions of the Joint Action cited above. It also notes that the Agency "shall be open to all Member States wishing to be part of it."

The EDA affords EU Member States the opportunity of keeping track on capability developments and addressing shortfalls in a more comprehensive and systematic manner.

The EDA is intended to assist EU Member States in developing the necessary defence capabilities to support the Union's foreign and security policy objectives, including responding to crisis situations such as the current humanitarian emergency in Eastern Chad, where an EU mission led by General Pat Nash of the Defence Forces is underway.

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