Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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498. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria or commitments he deems appropriate for Ireland to make within Permanent Structured Co-operation; and if it is planned that Ireland will participate fully within this new structure. [33135/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The PESCO criteria set out in Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol 10 annexed to the Lisbon Treaty, outlines the general guidance on participation in PESCO. Member States have to be both willing and able to contribute forces to the EU, participate in equipment programmes and European Defence Agency (EDA) activities, participate in EU Battlegroups, invest in defence equipment, improve interoperability and enhance their military capabilities. Ireland can support the development of an inclusive PESCO which delivers, through modular streams, essential capabilities for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations in the area of international crisis management. An agreed governance structure, the types of collaborative projects and initiatives Member States are willing to commit to, and a clear rationale as to the requirement for these to be addressed through PESCO, needs to be firstly determined before PESCO can be formally established. Member States, supported by the EDA and EEAS are continuing to work together in order to consider and develop a shared understanding of the common commitments, goals and criteria on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Treaty, as well as the governance model.

Further meetings are scheduled to take place later in July and August to develop this further and where it is hoped that the common criteria and conditions for participation can be further elaborated and defined. In that regard it is too early at this juncture to give a definite indication as to whether Ireland will participate in PESCO or to make any commitments in that regard. However, Ireland’s objective is to remain at the centre of CSDP and EDA projects and we will be seeking to see PESCO develop in a way that enables Ireland to participate, if not in the first stream, then at a future date.