Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he has received communication from his EU colleagues in the context of European defence and or security issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13570/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Since the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, now conducts the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy assisted by the European External Action Service. During each European Union Presidency one formal and one informal meeting of Defence Ministers is held. In relation to the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers that was held in Dublin discussions covered a range of issues including the upcoming European Council on Defence, Mali, the Horn of Africa and Partnerships between the EU and the United Nations.Ministers also had the benefit of the presence of the Under-Secretary General in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for the first time, at an EU Defence Ministers meeting.

Partnerships, in particular, between the EU and the United Nations, were the final item for discussion at the Informal meeting of Defence Ministers. This afforded EU Ministers of Defence and the Under Secretary General, Department of Peacekeeping Operations in the United Nations, the opportunity to discuss how to foster more effective co-operation and build partnerships in order to enhance the effectiveness of UN Peacekeeping operations.