Written answers

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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107. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent developments in the Common Foreign Security and Defence Policy in the areas of civilian crisis management and Ireland's contribution to civilian crisis management in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53118/13]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland attaches great importance to the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the European Union. CSDP is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which encompasses the EU's international obligations towards the maintenance of international peace and security. There are currently 12 civilian CSDP missions deployed in the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. One new civilian mission, EUBAM Libya was launched in May of this year. The mandate of EUBAM Libya is to support the Libyan authorities to develop capacity for enhancing the security of their land, sea and air borders in the short term, and to develop a broader Integrated Border Management (IBM) strategy in the long term.

During the year, it was decided to close two civilian CSDP Missions which had reached the end of their mandates: EUJUSTLEX Iraq and EUAVSEC South Sudan. EUJUSTLEX Iraq, a rule of law training mission for magistrates and prison administrators, was launched in 2005 and will close at the end of the year. EUAVSEC South Sudan which was launched in June 2012 to assist the South Sudanese authorities with advice on aviation security and to help reinforce security at Juba Airport, will close in February 2014.

Ireland currently deploys eleven civilians and four members of An Garda Síochána to six civilian CSDP missions. These deployments include: two civilians to the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia); two civilians and four members of an Garda Síochána to the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo); three civilians to the EU Police Mission to Afghanistan (EUPOL Afghanistan); two civilians to the European Union Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUSTLEX Iraq); one civilian to European Union Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS) and one civilian to the European Union Regional Maritime Capacity Building for the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean (EUCAP Nestor).

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