Written answers

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

EU Enlargement

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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221. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to review Ireland's role in an expanding European Union; if he will set out the strategic foreign policy goals of Ireland's relationship with our EU partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38862/14]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s engagement with the European Union is reviewed regularly to take account of evolving priorities and policy challenges, as well as the wider EU and international context. The Cabinet Committee on European Affairs, of which I am a member, plays a key role in overseeing our strategic approach and agreeing priorities for the period ahead. The Review of Ireland’s Foreign Policy and External Relations which I am currently undertaking is giving specific consideration to our foreign policy, and to how the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade across Government, can best contribute both to promoting Ireland’s interests within the European Union, and to ensuring that Europe’s voice is stronger at a global level. Ireland’s Permanent Representation in Brussels and our diplomatic missions in EU capitals play a key role in representing Ireland’s position in Europe, as well as understanding the perspectives of other Member States on issues of importance to us. Ireland recently opened an Embassy in Croatia, the newest member of the Union.

Among the issues which are of immediate strategic priority to Ireland in the EU context are measures to address unemployment, particularly youth unemployment; access to financing, including for small and medium enterprises (SMEs); securing progress on EU trade agreements; negotiations on the 2030 climate and energy framework and the digital agenda. Ireland’s foreign policy goals are also clearly advanced through our EU membership, including on issues such as international development, human rights and the Middle East Peace Process.

In relation to any future enlargement of the EU, we will continue to work intensively, in cooperation with our EU partners, to advance the accession process with the current candidates and potential candidates, and to overcome the legacy of recent conflicts in the Western Balkans.

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