Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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351. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position taken and the points raised by Ireland at the joint meeting of EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers on 14 November 2016 to discuss the implementation of the EU Global Strategy and the Common Security and Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3234/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The EU Global Strategy (EUGS) commits the EU to promoting peace, security, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These objectives are to be pursued through a comprehensive approach using the range of instruments available to the European Union, including political, diplomatic, economic development, trade, peace-keeping and crisis management tools.

Five priority areas have been identified for implementation of the EU Global Strategy. These include strengthening the EU’s capacity, through its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), to promote international peace and security within a rules-based global order underpinned by the United Nations.

On 14 November EU Foreign Ministers met in joint session with EU Defence Ministers. At that meeting, Ministers adopted conclusions in which they stated their commitment to strengthening the Union’s ability to act as a security provider and to enhance its capacity, through the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), to foster human security, tackle the root causes of conflict and thus resolve crises outside the EU’s borders.

Ireland is a strong supporter of initiatives, through the CSDP, which improve the capacity of the Union to contribute to international peace and security and in support of the UN. We support cooperation with international partners where this adds value and contributes to the achievement of these objectives.

In this context, the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and cooperation with other organisations in this area, is grounded within the EU Treaties and the Lisbon Protocol which protects Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality. The Council Conclusions expressly stipulated that the specific character of the security and defence policy of all EU Member States will be fully respected in the implementation of the Global Strategy.