Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29348/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I was representing the Government at the talks in Belfast on Monday 19 June so Ireland was represented at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) by our Permanent Representative to the EU Mr. Declan Kelleher. Agenda items at the FAC included the EU Global Strategy, EU-NATO cooperation, counter-terrorism, the external aspects of migration and Iraq. Over a working lunch Ministers discussed recent developments in the Gulf region.

The Council took stock of progress in implementing the various strands of the EU Global Strategy ahead of a one year progress report by the High Representative to the European Council on 22-23 June. It is expected that discussion on the Global Strategy will continue at the FAC in the coming months, including identifying future priorities for implementation. The Council adopted conclusions on maritime security.

The FAC also took stock of progress on EU-NATO cooperation following the Joint EU-NATO declaration last year, and adopted Conclusions in this area. EU-NATO cooperation is essentially focussed on security. As the Conclusions re-affirmed, it is conducted with full respect for the decision-making autonomy of the two organisations and for the specific national security and defence policies of Member States.

The FAC also had a discussion on counter-terrorism, and adopted Conclusions which updated the Council Conclusions of February 2015 in light of new and emerging challenges in this area.

Ministers then had a discussion on the external aspects of migration, in light of the Partnership Framework on migration which aims to improve cooperation between the EU and third counties on addressing the crises.

Ireland was one of the Member States at the Council expressing deep concern at conditions of migrants in detention camps in Libya. Ireland also emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes and humanitarian aspects of the migration crisis.

Ministers also adopted conclusions on Iraq, which task the High Representative and the European Commission with presenting an EU strategy for engagement with the country in the period ahead.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the conditions and treatment of migrants in detention centres in Libya was raised at the recent Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; the proposals there are to deal with these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29382/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The ongoing migration crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing the EU, and the Union has put in place a broad range of measures to address it. These have included the relocation of migrants from Italy and Greece across the EU; generous humanitarian assistance to countries hosting large numbers of migrants; and Operation Sophia, the naval operation to address the evil trade of people- trafficking in the Mediterranean. Those measures have had a positive impact, but more needs to be done.In the past year the migration focus has shifted from Turkey and Greece to the Central Mediterranean Route, from Libya to Italy. In March, EU Heads of State and Government set out the EU’s commitment to assist Libya in their Malta Declaration. That commitment is broad-ranging including capacity building, training, and the provision of equipment and support for the Libyan national coast guard and other agencies. It also seeks to ensure that there are adequate reception capacities in Libya for migrants, including through working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration.

In April of this year the EU approved a €90 million programme to step up protection of migrants and to reinforce migration management in Libya. A key objective is to provide multi-sectoral assistance and protection to migrants, refugees and host communities in different locations inside Libya, in particular inside detention centres, at disembarkation points and in urban settings. This programme is being implemented through a number of international agencies including the UN High Commission for Refugees and UNICEF. The €90m is in addition to the €120 million already announced by the EU for migration-related support for Libya. The EU will continue to closely monitor the migration situation in Libya to see what additional support is required.

Migration was discussed at Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and is also on the agenda for the European Council later this week. At the FAC, Ireland was among those expressing deep concern at conditions of migrants in detention camps in Libya. We emphasised – as we have on many previous occasions - the importance of addressing the root causes and humanitarian aspects of the migration crisis if an enduring solution is to be found.

It must be acknowledged too, that without an effective, internationally recognised government in Libya, addressing the migrant crisis in the Central Mediterranean region will continue to be very difficult.