Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 32: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he will encourage his EU colleagues to re-discover the original ideals as set out by the modern Europe's founding fathers; if he has experienced the recent tendency toward re-nationalisation with resultant unilateralism, lack of cohesiveness, failure to observe the need for greater than ever co-operation in times of economic stress; if he sees the need for a reaffirmation of Europe's mission statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13926/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his priorities to recapture the original EU mission statement of solidarity, equality and cohesion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14086/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 48 together.

The founders of the European Union of today set out to create a peaceful, prosperous and united Europe. The Union today remains, despite the challenges we face, both prosperous and peaceful and embraces twenty-seven Member States stretching from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. The development of the European Union has frequently been marked by periods of tension between, on the one hand, the process of a degree of pooling of sovereignty and intensified cooperation and, on the other, increased reliance on the nation state and its protection. Not surprisingly, this tension sometimes appears stronger at times of economic difficulty.

I do not, however, share the Deputy's belief that cooperation has been notably lacking in the current economic stress. The European Council of late March adopted a comprehensive package of measures to address various aspects of the preservation of the euro's stability and to promote a return to growth and job creation. This was the culmination of many months' work, carried out with urgency and in the spirit of cooperation and compromise. Taking the case of Ireland, it is clear that we have benefitted from the solidarity of our EU partners during the current economic crisis, though the loan provisions from the EFSM and EFSF. While there are aspects of those loans which can be bettered - a matter we are pursuing in line with conclusions of the Eurogroup - I am certain that our present difficult situation would be much worse without the continuing support of our EU partners.

We and our fellow member states of the European Union recently committed ourselves again to the ideals of the Union's founding fathers when we ratified the Lisbon Treaty. In this, we solemnly and explicitly recalled the historic importance of the ending of the division of the European continent, undertook together to promote economic and social progress of our peoples and resolved to continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.

The European Union is in many ways a work in progress. We should not diminish what we have achieved together so far. In fact, every time the European Union has confronted a challenge over the past sixty years, we have always overcome it stronger and more united. We have secured the rights and freedoms of our citizens; we have built together the world's biggest economic power and the largest market; we have established and, despite unprecedented pressures, successfully defended a single currency; and, after centuries of conflict, have given peace and stability to the continent through enlargement of the Union. I am confident that my EU colleagues remain as committed as I am to the ideals which motivated the founders of the European Union.