Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

442. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the situation in the western Balkans remains stable and to which the region prepares for EU membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38716/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland recognises the value of EU accession as a transformative driver for stability and peace in the Western Balkans. We have always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. In this regard, we welcome the reform agenda underway in the countries of the Western Balkans and the progress that has been made in the areas of security and rule of law.

In March 2020, EU Member States agreed an enhanced accession methodology, which seeks to make the accession process more credible and dynamic, by clustering together negotiating Chapters and phasing in participation in EU programmes and policies. The enhanced methodology also recognises the need for more decisive measures proportionally sanctioning any serious or prolonged stagnation or even backsliding in reform implementation.

The European Commission published its Annual Enlargement Package and country reports in October 2020. In terms of the progress of individual Western Balkan countries, Serbia and Montenegro are both currently negotiating Chapters of the Acquis with the EU. Serbia has opened negotiations on 18 Chapters, with two provisionally closed. Montenegro has opened all Chapters and provisionally closed three. The country reports for 2020 assessed both Serbia and Montenegro as having both made limited progress. Serbia needs to accelerate its reforms and make significant progress in the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, while Montenegro must address shortcomings in the areas of media freedom, fight against corruption and trafficking, and turn its attention to the closing of Chapters.

Regarding North Macedonia and Albania, it was agreed by the European Council in March 2020 to open negotiations with both countries. It was regrettable that Member States were unable to reach agreement on the draft negotiating frameworks for both countries at the November General Affairs Council. Ireland believes the draft negotiating frameworks should be agreed at the earliest available opportunity to allow the first Intergovernmental Conferences to take place with both countries.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has made limited progress over the last year and faces significant challenges to ensure implementation of the Commission’s 2019 recommendations in the areas of democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights, and public administration reform. Progress in these areas must be seen before the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina can be considered.

Kosovo is a potential candidate for Membership of the EU. The Commission’s report on Kosovo in 2020 noted that the political situation in Kosovo remains challenging. Rule of law, judicial reform, public administration reform, organised crime and normalisation of the relationship with Serbia are just some of the areas that must be comprehensively addressed in order for Kosovo to advance on its European path. It will be some time before Kosovo can qualify as a candidate country.

Ireland will continue to support the enlargement process and offer any practical assistance it can to candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations to the EU.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

443. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which it is accepted that the rule of law should prevail across all EU and non-EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38717/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that challenges to the rule of law are present in both EU and non-EU countries, and the rule of law cannot be taken for granted.

Ireland is a firm supporter of the rule of law and the values of the EU enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote, both within and beyond the EU.

Globally, Ireland is committed to a process of effective multilateralism in which the broadly accepted, rules-based international order is respected and developed. Both internationally and at EU level specifically, Ireland has advocated broadly for respect for the rule of law.

We believe that it is important for the EU to have the necessary tools to monitor the rule of law across Member States and to effectively respond to challenges where they arise.

To that end, we strongly support a strong and effective Rule of Law proposal to protect the EU Budget. Once the regime of conditionality is introduced, Ireland will support its fair, proportionate and effective implementation. The introduction of a regime of conditionality would be in addition to an important range of tools available to the EU for monitoring, promoting and enforcing the rule of law.

Among these tools are the ongoing Article 7 proceedings against Hungary and Poland, under which there have been a number of hearings at the General Affairs Council. Ireland has actively participated in these hearings - and will continue to do so - highlighting the importance we attach to respect for the rule of law.

We have also welcomed the publication of the Commission’s first Annual Rule of Law Report, which presents a broad overview of the rule of law situations across Member States and the EU as a whole. It provides a valuable, impartial assessment of both the positive and negative developments relating to rule of law. We look forward to discussing the Irish Chapter of the Report with fellow Member States at a meeting of the General Affairs Council during the Portuguese Presidency in 2021.

Conversations among EU Member States regarding the rule of law can be difficult, and each Member State has its challenges in this area, but it is important for Member States to be willing to engage on these issues. We will remain open to dialogue on the rule of law and we encourage our fellow Member States to do the same.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

444. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the international community continues to assist countries with economic and-or political difficulties in Latin America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38718/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am very aware of the multi-faceted economic and political challenges that many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face and the disproportionate affect that COVID-19 has had on the region. Ireland, together with EU partners and others in the international community, continue to support countries in the region to respond effectively to these challenges.

The long-standing partnership between the EU and the LAC region is grounded in shared values and history and a commitment to multilateralism. We share the same vision when it comes to shaping global issues, such as sustainable development, free and fair trade, and the digital revolution.

Relations between the EU and the LAC region were most recently discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council Meeting (FAC) on 12 October and I participated in this discussion. The impact of COVID-19 in the region had also been discussed at the FAC on 13 July. On that occasion, we voiced concern about how the pandemic is compounding difficulties already facing the region, such as inequality, gender issues, democracy and human rights. An EU-LAC Ministerial Meeting is planned for 14 December at which we hope to reaffirm and give new impetus to our strategic partnership.

Ireland, through our six Missions in the region, is active under the ‘Team Europe’ umbrella, which has been providing support to the most vulnerable countries and people most at risk since the outbreak of the pandemic. As of 1 October 2020, €2.44 billion has been made available, so far, to partners in the region under the initiative. The EU is the LAC region’s principal development partner (€3.6 billion provided in grants between 2014 and 2020) and a main provider of humanitarian assistance. The EU also provides support through regional cooperation programmes through the Development Cooperation Instrument. The EU Regional Programme for Latin America (2014-2020) allocated a total of €918 million to the region.

Debt relief is an important tool to assist countries speed up post-COVID recovery and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We note that many Middle Income countries, a number of which are in the LAC region, are not eligible for debt relief and are at risk of debt distress. We support efforts to explore ways to help address the debt sustainability challenges that they are facing.

I remain deeply concerned by the serious and deteriorating political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and the effects of the crisis on neighbouring countries. Ireland has been active in responding to the crisis and since 2019, we have provided almost €2.5m in funding to respond to the needs of migrants and refugees.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to a whole-of-Government strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean. This Strategy will act as a framework for Ireland’s developing bilateral relations with the region and I look forward to it being finalised and published in the period ahead.