Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he attended the recent informal meeting of EU defence Ministers; if so, the matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23081/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I attended the recent informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Valetta, Malta, which took place on 26th and 27th April 2017. This was an informal meeting and as such no decisions are taken on any matter.

On 26 April, Ministers received a briefing from Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino on 'Operation Sophia', which is the EU naval operation against human smugglers and traffickers. The mission is also providing capacity building and training to the Libyan Coastguard and Navy and contributing to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2292 (UNSCR 2292). UNSCR 2292 imposes an arms embargo on Libya in an effort to prevent the flow of illicit arms and related materiel into that country.

On 27th April, Ministers discussed and exchanged views on:

- Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations with a focus on Libya, the Mediterranean Naval CSDP mission 'Operation Sophia' and CSDP missions in the Sahel.

- Ongoing work on Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).

- Ongoing work on the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD).Ongoing work by the Commission on their European Defence Action Plan (EDAP), including the proposal for a European Defence Fund.

- The issue of strengthening the EU 's Rapid Response toolbox, including EU Battlegroups, in particular to reinforce their modularity, preparation and effective financing.

In the margins of the meeting I met with the UN Under Secretary General (UN/USG), Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix where inter aliawe had a detailed exchange of views in relation to Peacekeeping Operations, in particular UNIFIL, UNDOF and MINUSMA, UN support for EU Battle Groups and funding to the United Nations.