Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent if any to which the international community can encourage the installation of democratic structures in Libya and or other locations that have been the subject of regime change in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33804/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Democratic transition in any country must first and foremost be led by the country itself if the budding democracy is to have deep and enduring roots. However, there are important practical and political ways in which the international community can assist. With this in mind, the international community has extended significant help — and will continue to do so — to Europe's neighbours who have recently embarked upon a democratic transition: Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. With regard to Libya, for example, the High-level Meeting on Libya in New York on 20 September en marge of the 66th session of the UNGA, which I attended, made clear the international community's political support for the National Transitional Council as the interim authorities in Libya as well as providing for formal acceptance into the United Nations of the new Libya. The Security Council also authorised on 16 September a United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) which will lead the international community's practical assistance during the transition period to Libyan national efforts in a range of areas, including the restoration of public security and order, the promotion of rule of law, the restoration of public services and support for human rights.

In Tunisia and Egypt, too, the international community has rallied to offer support to the interim authorities. In addition to substantial financial assistance, there has also been assistance directly aimed at building a democratic culture. For example, at Tunisia's request, the EU deployed an EU Electoral Observation Mission to assess and offer recommendations on Tunisia's first democratic elections on 23 October and has offered similar assistance to the Egyptian authorities. Another example of practical assistance was the first meeting of the EU-Tunisia Taskforce on 21 and 22 September which sought to galvanise private sector development in Tunisia. Economic development will be a key factor in the successful democratisation of these countries, and must be considered as an integral part of the democratisation effort.

Ireland and the EU's overall approach to the Southern Neighbourhood during this transition period is guided by the reformulated European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) which was partly shaped by events in North Africa and which Heads of State and Government broadly endorsed at the European Council in June 2011. One principle outlined in the ENP is the concept of positive conditionality or "more for more". This concept allows for greater political association, economic integration, mobility and financial support for neighbouring partners in return for progress on democratic reforms and closer alignment with the EU's core values. The revised ENP also allows for greater cooperation with civil society. The ENP is complemented by regional and multilateral co-operation through the Union for Mediterranean (UfM). The UfM is an intergovernmental process which emphasises economic and social cooperation.

Ireland and the EU will continue to seek ways to assist Libya, Tunisia and Egypt in their nascent democratic transitions which have the potential to bring greater economic growth and stability to this neighbouring region.