Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

430. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the publication of the European Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe published on 1 March 2017. [12043/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the publication of the Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe. It is essentially a discussion paper which contains much valuable food for thought both about the international context as it is now and may develop over the coming decade, as well as setting out a number of scenarios for how the EU might evolve and develop in the period ahead. It takes an open and non-prescriptive approach and is presented as an initial contribution to a Europe-wide discussion and debate. This approach is welcome and is in keeping with the need to renew the EU's contract with its citizens. The promised publication later this year of more detailed papers on a range of specific issues will also contribute to the Europe-wide discussions that this White Paper seeks to initiate.

It is important that all member States, national parliaments and citizens across Europe are involved in this discussion in the period ahead. In the first instance, I would suggest that it might be appropriate for the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs to take up consideration of the White Paper.

The White Paper should also be seen in the light of the Declaration of twenty-seven Heads of State or Government, which issued in Rome to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome. The Declaration acknowledges the issues facing the Union, while also stressing its achievements and strengths. Looking to the future, it places the short-to-medium term focus very much on the concrete delivery of commitments already made across a range of areas of real concern to citizens.