Irish Times: Ireland *not* to opt out of EU security policy

national | eu | other press Thursday February 26, 2009 12:10 by redjade

The Government will not opt out completely from European security and defence policy (ESDP) in response to last year’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

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“No that is not being considered. That was never considered,” Mr Martin told journalists yesterday when asked if the Government was planning a Danish-style opt-out from ESDP. But he said there was no final decision yet on whether Ireland would withdraw from the European Defence Agency, which helps states to improve defence capabilities by promoting research and development and co-operation on armaments procurement.

Mr Martin said a draft text outlining guarantees on neutrality had now been written in co-operation with the legal service of the council of ministers. The Government is also finalising specific guarantees on taxation and social/ethical issues in advance of a second referendum on Lisbon.

[....]

Mr Martin’s comments in relation to a Danish-style opt-out from ESDP will provide some comfort to the Defence Forces, which had warned this would severely reduce their own capabilities and effectiveness. A complete ESDP opt-out would have prevented Irish Defence Forces from contributing to EU missions and removed the veto Ireland retains at the council of ministers over the deployment of EU forces overseas.

It will disappoint the NGO Peace and Neutrality Alliance, which has campaigned for Ireland to opt out of what it describes as an increasing militarisation of the EU.

• more at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0224/122....html

• European Security and Defence Policy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Security_and_Defe...olicy
• The European Defence Agency - http://www.eda.europa.eu/
• http://www.military.ie/
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