Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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203. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting, with particular reference to the terrible atrocities committed recently in Paris in France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40986/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on 16 November.

The Council took place in the shadow of the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night. At noon, Foreign Ministers joined people across Europe in observing a minute’s silence in memory of those killed.

I also personally conveyed the condolences of the Irish people to France’s representative at the Council, Minister of State for European Affairs, Harlem Désir, saying that Ireland stood in solidarity with the people of France at this time of great difficulty and mourning. As Minister Désir himself pointed out, the French people were the ones attacked, but the whole of Europe, its values and freedoms are threatened, and European solidarity and cohesion are vital to the response. I stressed the Irish Government’s continuing commitment to working with France and EU partners to protect Europe’s citizens and safeguard our values against further terrorist attacks.

In the discussion on migration, Member States stressed the importance of not linking the issues of migration and terrorism. As regards the EU’s engagement with Turkey, there was general agreement that Turkey is an important strategic partner for the European Union across the broad range of international cooperation, including migration. There was also unanimous welcome for the outcome of the Valletta Summit, where it was agreed to establish a Trust Fund to address the root causes of migration in Africa.

The Council also discussed the Middle East Peace Process, in particular the recent visits of HRVP Mogherini and EU Special Representative Gentilini, which explored the possibility for a resumption of political talks at this time. Ministers also discussed the unrest and violence during the last two months, and also the publication by the European Commission of an interpretative notice on indications of origin of produce from Israeli settlements. In my intervention, I addressed the violence on the ground, the need for a response wider than just security measures, which would address also the underlying issues. I also stressed the need for concrete actions and improvements, particularly in relation to Gaza and to Area C. The discussion is expected to continue at the December Council.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, also briefed Foreign Ministers on the outcome of the discussions of the International Support Group in Vienna on Saturday 14 November and the prospects for a political resolution to the conflict.