Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which European cohesion remains steadfast throughout European institutions with a view to ensuring universal acceptance of the principles of law and order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21125/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated in the Commission’s ‘2023 Rule of Law Report, the rule of law situation in the European Union’, under the rule of law, all public powers always act within the constraints set out by law, in accordance with the values of democracy and fundamental rights, and under the control of independent and impartial courts. The rule of law includes principles such as legality, implying a transparent, accountable, democratic and pluralistic process for enacting laws; legal certainty; prohibiting the arbitrary exercise of executive power; effective judicial protection by independent and impartial courts, effective judicial review including respect for fundamental rights; separation of powers; and equality before the law.

These principles have been recognised by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. In addition, the Council of Europe has developed standards and issued opinions and recommendations which provide well-established guidance for promoting and upholding the rule of law.

Ensuring respect for the rule of law is a primary responsibility of each Member State. However, deficiencies in one Member State have an impact on other Member States and on the EU as a whole. Therefore, the Union has a shared and a interest and a role to play in resolving rule of law issues wherever they arise.

Ireland has consistently supported the development of a robust range of instruments available to the European Commission to ensure that Member States adhere to rule of law obligations as enshrined in the EU treaties. These instruments include the Annual Rule of Law Reporting process, Article 7 proceedings and infringement proceedings.

Ireland will continue to engage comprehensively with the EU’s multifaceted response to internal rule of law challenges and will encourage continued dialogue and action on these issues among Member States to ensure adherence to common Rule of Law standards.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which progress continues throughout the European institutions with a view to ensuring continued security and peace in the Western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21127/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Lying at the heart of Europe, and surrounded by EU Member States, continued peace and security in the Western Balkans is of strategic importance to the European Union and its Member States, including Ireland. Given the wider geo-political situation, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, we can ill-afford any insecurity in the Western Balkans.

I am extremely proud of the contribution that members of the Irish Defence Forces have made, and continue to make, in the region’s two peacekeeping missions, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation Althea). These missions are vital to ensuring peace and stability throughout the entire region.

The European Union and its institutions expend great effort to promote reconciliation, cooperation and integration across the Western Balkans. The EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue is the only vehicle through which to achieve normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. It ensures regular dialogue between the two sides, to seek practical solutions to emerging issues. Both sides now need to take clear action to swiftly implement the provisions of the Brussels and Ohrid agreements.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the EU works closely with all stakeholders to advance the country’s EU perspective. In recognition of the efforts of the new government to advance EU reforms, the European Commission decided in March 2024 to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was a historic decision, and a concrete demonstration of the EU’s commitment to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s future within the EU, which is the clear aspiration of the majority of Bosnians. The EU has been strongly critical of regressive steps on fundamental rights in the Republika Srpska entity, which risk jeopardising the progress being made at state level, and destabilising the country as a whole. The Council of the EU also adopted an assistance measure in December 2022 worth €10 million to the benefit of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH). This decision was part of the EU’s work to further strengthen its security engagement with its Western Balkan partners.

The EU and its institutions remain deeply committed to peace and stability across the Western Balkans. The future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union.