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Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2013. Now, just over half way through that term, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, looks at what has been achieved and what remains to be done in the areas of justice, home affairs and defence.
Minister Shatter said “The first quarter of 2013 has been a busy and productive period in the areas of justice, home affairs, equality and defence. Working closely with Member States in partnership with the Commission and the European Parliament, some notable achievements have already been delivered. The mid-way point in our Presidency is a good time to take stock, review our progress and renew our commitment to deliver on Ireland’s priorities by the end of June”.
(Justice stuff removed)
A summary of the main achievement in the Defence area is included below:
- At the Informal meeting of Ministers in Dublin, which the Minister chaired, a range of issues were discussed including the upcoming European Council on Defence, Mali, the Horn of Africa, Partnerships between the EU and the United Nations and the role of the EU Battlegroups. This meeting was attended by the Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and UN Under-Secretary General in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Herve Ladsous.
- A successful seminar on the topic of Regional Organisations Co-Operation with the UN in the area of Crisis Management, Peace Support and Peace Enforcement Operations was held in Ireland. The outcome of this was to raise the issue of support to the UN from the EU, NATO and the African Union and it has led to a renewed impetus in this area for all relevant stakeholders and continues to be on the agenda of meetings in many different fora.
- Another seminar dealt with the issue of Maritime Security and Surveillance. The outcome was very positive pointing to the need for increased information sharing among member States to deliver effective maritime security in the face on increasing threats both in European waters and in international trade routes. The seminar has given increased the impetus for this important subject and should lead to further discussions at EU and institutional levels.
- Minister Shatter gave a keynote address on the importance of Defence Cooperation to deliver effective military capabilities at the European Defence Agency Annual Conference in Brussels. (March). Ireland, as Presidency, also co-hosted a joint seminar with the EDA in Brussels on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices.
- Minister Shatter opened the first ever seminar in the Defence Sector relating to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) which was held in Citywest in Dublin to coincide with the Irish Presidency in which delegates from 28 countries participated.
Minister Shatter has attended, spoke at and participated in a variety of meeting in the European Parliament and had discussion with rapporteurs of committees charged with the responsibility of negotiating agreements with the EU Council of Ministers on a variety of reforming EU legislative instruments. Minister Shatter looks forward to making progress on existing and new policies in the justice, home affairs and defence areas during the remaining months of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
19 April 2013
ENDS
Minister Shatter said “The first quarter of 2013 has been a busy and productive period in the areas of justice, home affairs, equality and defence. Working closely with Member States in partnership with the Commission and the European Parliament, some notable achievements have already been delivered. The mid-way point in our Presidency is a good time to take stock, review our progress and renew our commitment to deliver on Ireland’s priorities by the end of June”.
(Justice stuff removed)
A summary of the main achievement in the Defence area is included below:
- At the Informal meeting of Ministers in Dublin, which the Minister chaired, a range of issues were discussed including the upcoming European Council on Defence, Mali, the Horn of Africa, Partnerships between the EU and the United Nations and the role of the EU Battlegroups. This meeting was attended by the Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and UN Under-Secretary General in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Herve Ladsous.
- A successful seminar on the topic of Regional Organisations Co-Operation with the UN in the area of Crisis Management, Peace Support and Peace Enforcement Operations was held in Ireland. The outcome of this was to raise the issue of support to the UN from the EU, NATO and the African Union and it has led to a renewed impetus in this area for all relevant stakeholders and continues to be on the agenda of meetings in many different fora.
- Another seminar dealt with the issue of Maritime Security and Surveillance. The outcome was very positive pointing to the need for increased information sharing among member States to deliver effective maritime security in the face on increasing threats both in European waters and in international trade routes. The seminar has given increased the impetus for this important subject and should lead to further discussions at EU and institutional levels.
- Minister Shatter gave a keynote address on the importance of Defence Cooperation to deliver effective military capabilities at the European Defence Agency Annual Conference in Brussels. (March). Ireland, as Presidency, also co-hosted a joint seminar with the EDA in Brussels on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices.
- Minister Shatter opened the first ever seminar in the Defence Sector relating to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) which was held in Citywest in Dublin to coincide with the Irish Presidency in which delegates from 28 countries participated.
Minister Shatter has attended, spoke at and participated in a variety of meeting in the European Parliament and had discussion with rapporteurs of committees charged with the responsibility of negotiating agreements with the EU Council of Ministers on a variety of reforming EU legislative instruments. Minister Shatter looks forward to making progress on existing and new policies in the justice, home affairs and defence areas during the remaining months of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
19 April 2013
ENDS