Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which all EU countries committed to the principles of the EU remain committed to the acquis communautaire in full; if appropriate consideration has been given to deviations therefrom and commitments to ensure adequate collegiality within the Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14486/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he remains satisfied that all remaining 27 EU member states remain committed in full to the EU principles; if issues have been identified as having a disruptive potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14487/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.

In an address I gave earlier this year on the future of Europe I spoke about the many changes taking place in Europe. But the Deputy will be pleased to know that I was clear that there was one thing we did not wish to see changing in Europe and that is the European Union’s commitment to its values. I am pleased to reiterate that now.

The Union’s values are expressed clearly in article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, which says:

“The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between men and women prevail.”

It is on the basis of these values that Member States engage with each other and on which the European Union engages with the rest of the world. These are the values we bring to our common policies, to our trade negotiations, to our work on peace-keeping and conflict resolution, and to our international development programmes.

Member States subscribe to these values when they accede to the Union. They are not optional. No applicant State can avoid them and all Member States are obliged to respect them.

They are an indispensable part of the acquis communautaireand the Treaties set out clear procedures in the event that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of these values.