Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there is a need for political commitment at the highest level of the EU to ensure the development and provision by EU member states of capabilities for the operations of a Common Security and Defence Policy; if he supports an effective industrial and technology base to deliver those capabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48997/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The December European Council will hold a thematic discussion on security and defence issues, in accordance with the mandate received from the December 2012 European Council. The discussions will be informed by a Report on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) by High Representative Ashton and a Commission Communication entitled “Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector”. The meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers’ format on 18-19 November is expected to agree substantial conclusions on CSDP, which will feed into the December European Council Conclusions. The draft conclusions cover the effectiveness and visibility of the CSDP, defence capabilities and the defence industry. CSDP is intended to equip the Union with an operational capacity for missions outside the EU aimed at strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. These missions draw on civilian and military capabilities provided by Member States for a range of tasks encompassing humanitarian and rescue efforts, conflict prevention, joint disarmament operations, peace-keeping, crisis management, including peacemaking, and post-conflict stabilisation. These tasks form part of the EU’s Comprehensive Approach to the promotion of peace and security.

The EU’s capacity to engage in CSDP peace-keeping and crisis management operations relies on the assets made available to it by its Member States. For that purpose, an effective industrial and technological base is needed to ensure that the market can continue to provide the required capabilities for the purposes of CSDP in the future.