Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting
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AFET European Parliament
Follow its sittingsHelen MCENTEE
These new measures targeting the shadow fleet, payment platforms, key are key to stemming financial flows to support Russia's war and stopping accessing goods and technology to use on the battlefield. This will be an important deliverable for our presidency and we hope to see new and more measures in the months ahead. Enlargement, few policies embody the values of the EU more than this. Ireland was part of the first enlargement of the then EEC in 1973. EU membership will have a transformational impact for candidate countries, as we have seen first-hand in Ireland, how we've been utterly transformed through our 53 years of membership, like many members here.
The opening of accession negotiations on cluster one fundamentals for Ukraine and Moldova marked a significant step towards both countries' futures within the European Union. It is important that we keep up this momentum and that we work to open the remaining clusters. And we welcome agreement to open the sixth cluster of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, which is taking place and happening this morning. We will also seek to progress all other candidacies where conditions allow, and there's further progress that's happening today with Montenegro and Albania, which we can touch on. We'll work towards the completion of accession negotiations with Montenegro and seek to make that substantial progress in negotiations with Albania, while of course continuing to progress all other accessions.
The need to enhance our security to build our resilience has never been more evident.
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, devastating conflicts across the Middle East and Gulf... The need to enhance our security and to build our resilience has never been more evident. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, devastating conflicts across the Middle East and the Gulf, and the rapid evolution of hybrid threats and new forms of warfare present profound challenges to our continent. We know that no country acting alone can address the entirety of existing and emerging security challenges. I'm very much aware of this in my role as both Minister for Defence, but also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ireland will work tirelessly to advance concrete measures that strengthen Europe's security, our resilience and defence. We will actively take forward work on the proposed new European security strategy. We will support collaboration to build European resilience, particularly in the face of hybrid threats, and to advance our maritime and our cyber security. We will progress key legislative files, including maritime mobility and the defence procurement directive, which we expect later this year. Later this morning, I will meet with your colleagues from the SEDE Committee for a detailed exchange on these issues and much more.
The EU has consistently sought to play a role in support of peace and stability in the Middle East. This is a region of key importance for Europe and with which we enjoy strong ties. The interlinked crisis across the Middle East and the Gulf will remain high on our shared agenda in the coming months. We discussed these issues yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Council. On Israel and Palestine, Ireland will continue to reaffirm the EU's commitment to international law and to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution that guarantees the equal right of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and to live in peace within secure borders.
Because of our own experience on the island of Ireland, we feel a deep affinity with those who seek self-determination and who simply seek to live in dignity and peace. We will work to ensure that focus is maintained in EU discussions on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank where unilateral actions threaten the viability of the two-state solution. The ongoing crisis in the wider Gulf and Iran continues to impact regional security and the global economy.
Yesterday we met with Gulf GCC ministers to discuss security and strengthening our partnerships ahead of the EU-GCC summit due to take place in October. This was also an important time during my visit or theme during my visit to the Gulf just last week. The EU has been consistent in calling for dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and respect for international law. We hope that recent escalations between the US and Iran can be resolved quickly and we call for further engagement towards implementation of all elements of the memorandum of understanding and the conclusion of a sustainable peace agreement. Ireland will work closely with the External Action Service to ensure that the EU's voice is heard clearly in Tehran through our embassy.
Advancing the EU's support for the security and stability for Lebanon will also be a priority, including through work towards a post-UNIFIL CSDP mission. The Lebanese people must be supported to charter the future of their country at peace and within secure borders. On multilateralism, our shared European values based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are the foundation of our Union. In our presidency role, we are determined to work alongside the EU institutions, including the European Parliament and with our fellow member states to promote multilateral solutions to our common challenges.
This includes ensuring robust EU engagement in UN 80 reform. We will cooperate with partners who share our determination to defend and uphold international law, to work to oppose attempts to dilute international commitments and human rights standards. We attach particular priority to finalizing the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. Working with partners, we will promote a globally engaged EU through investment in wider relations with international partners. This will be a priority during our presidency.
This includes promoting a mutually beneficial and positive transatlantic relationship. This partnership is founded on a shared history and strong bonds. For decades, it has been a cornerstone of peace, security, and economic growth. We will underscore the UK's status as an important partner for the EU also. It will be crucial that the EU and the UK work together in facing the global challenges that we share.
We will also work to maintain and strengthen the EU's relationship with Canada. We will emphasize the importance of our relationship with the African Union to deepen our cooperation on shared priorities. Ireland remains committed to keeping Sudan high on the EU and international agenda. We must redouble our efforts to find an urgent and a sustained solution to this conflict. We remain deeply concerned by unfolding events around El Obeid.
The protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure alongside humanitarian access need that sustained attention and focus. The Sahel will remain a priority for the EU with the focus on taking forward the EU's renewed approach to the region. The Irish presidency will also prioritize EU engagement with our partners in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. To conclude, thank you again, Chair, for inviting me here to meet you today. The work that you and your colleagues do is invaluable in helping the EU deliver for its citizens.
Ireland has always believed in the value of international cooperation and in the European Union as a force for peace, prosperity and progress. As we assume the presidency once again, we do so with ambition for our future and confident in what we can achieve when countries work together towards a common purpose. And so we look forward to working with our European partners to help build a stronger, a more secure and a more prosperous future for us all. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much indeed, Minister. And we will now proceed with the exchange of views. The first round will be for AFET coordinators for two minutes each one.
So now I'm going to give two minutes the floor to Mr. Gahler from the EPP group. Thank you.
Michael Gahler
I have, yeah, thank you, and I have to apologize that I was late. I, so I could not follow your, your speech, but we met in another setup in, in Galway some time ago and then I heard already what your presidency's priorities are. I think, and I'm, well, in general, I'm always very grateful to hear pro-European native English speakers, and that is an Irish privilege that you have, and showing that one can also with this language be, pronounce pro-European stance. And I'm grateful that you will pursue our agenda in the, of course, in the agreed framework with, and you have rightly identified the priorities that we have. I'm the co-rapporteur for Global Europe, for this big project, and we have seen the Council positioning in this regard.
We are now as a Parliament still in the process of positioning ourselves. But I would wish that while the Commission of course wants the utmost of flexibility for Global Europe, the Council wants an utmost of well possibility to work into the planning of the Commission so that you have your say. And for us, well it should not only be the scrutiny left as a role of the Parliament. Scrutiny is ex-post. But when it comes to preparing the policies and explaining ahead of implementation, perhaps I wonder whether there could be some common ground of Council and Parliament in well encouraging if not pushing the Commission to be more open in their way of explaining what their plans are.
So my wish is also from your side, although the real trilogue will happen during the next presidency. But in this phase while we are positioning ourselves and you are working on your position and are in contact with the Commission, that you raise the preparedness also from their on their side that there is more information, more dialogue when it comes to planning the policy for the next financial framework. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much Mr. Gahler.
And now I will give the floor to Mr. Nacho Sánchez Amor from S&D for two minutes. Thank you.
Nacho Sánchez Amor
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Minister. First thing I would like to do is to emphatically thank Ireland for many positions in foreign affairs for the last years. That you combine perfectly a principled position with a practical way of acting in the international arena, and we were very refreshing for the European public opinion. You coincide frequently with the Spanish government, but the Spanish government is leftist and you are not.
But you are showing to the rest of Europe that it's possible to conduct a foreign policy under the guidance of principles. And for that reason, I would like to underline the way in which you talk about Europe as a global actor, and you add principled global actor. Thank you for this approach. One of the things you have to deal with in the coming months is the blurring practice of competence in foreign affairs between the External Service and the Commission. The External Service is chronically underfunded, and this is a deliberate policy because that means in the European Union, contrary to our constitutional systems, the competence is following the money.
In our systems, we decide who is doing what and then we allocate the money. In this house, in European Union, the competence is following the money and in this way the Commission is grabbing any minor crumb of foreign capacities in a more open quarrel with the External Service, and this is the thing you have to you have to deal with. You can simply surrender your foreign policy capacities in the Council, but you we have to clarify. I'm not asking for one or other solution, but it has to be clarified who is doing what in foreign affairs of the European Union. This is a task is is taken to you.
One of the most striking absence in your speeches and in your paper is China. And that could be a proof of sincerity. We don't know what to do with China. And I say we, is Ireland, is Spain, is European Union, because you use these empty labels, systemic rival, cooperation partner. We don't know what to do with China, but I noticed the absence of reference of China in your Prime Minister speech to the plenary and in in your speech today and even in the paper.
Do you have anything to add to the current situation or the current discussion on the relation with China?
Enlargement, do you have any preferred model for enlargement? These ideas about gradual, differentiated enlargement, phased enlargement is what you have to deal with in the coming months. And my group is very committed with enlargement in general, and we would like to know from you what are your ideas. And finally, one particular country, Turkey. The silence of the European Union, meaning Council and Commission, is disgusting.
It's simply upsetting. It's impossible to talk about Turkey not talking about what is happening in the domestic politics, the crushing on the opposition, the crushing in the civil society, the detention of 20 opposition mayors, the current court procedures against the mayor of Istanbul. Please try to appear with this principal global actor saying something to the Turkish public opinion because they feel completely orphan regarding the European Union. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much, Mr. Amor. Now from ECR, Mr. Mularczyk, please. Thank you, floor is yours for two minutes.
Arkadiusz Mularczyk
I will speak in Polish. Szanowna Pani Minister. Na początku chciałem pogratulować serdecznie Irlandii objęcia prezydencji w Radzie Unii Europejskiej. Życzę Państwu powodzenia i mam nadzieję, że będzie to prezydencja oparta na zasadach sprawiedliwości i solidarności i konsekwentnej obronie prawa międzynarodowego. Z uznaniem odnotowałem także Pani wypowiedzi dotyczące stanowiska w kontekście rosyjskiej agresji na Ukrainę.
Podkreśla Pani, że agresor musi ponieść odpowiedzialność za zbrodnie wojenne oraz zapłacić zadośćuczynienie za szkody wyrządzone ofiarom oraz krajowi. Irlandia popiera międzynarodowy mechanizm dochodzenia roszczeń oraz wykorzystanie zamrożonych aktywów, które są w Unii Europejskiej na rzecz odbudowy Ukrainy. W związku z tym chciałem zadać Pani dwa konkretne pytania.
Irlandia zdecydowanie popiera członkostwo Ukrainy w Unii Europejskiej. Czy uważa pani jednak, że państwo kandydujące do Unii Europejskiej, takie jak Ukraina, powinno respektować przed przystąpieniem do negocjacji europejskie wartości, także w zakresie pamięci historycznej, zapewnić możliwość prowadzenia ekshumacji ofiar? Mówię tu o polskich ofiarach na Wołyniu oraz zaprzestać kultywowania zbrodniczych jednostek UPA i OUN, które dokonały w okresie II wojny światowej zbrodni na Polakach i zamordowały 100 tysięcy polskich obywateli, niewinnych kobiet i dzieci. I do tych jednostek odwołuje się prezydent Zełenski i Ukraińcy. Czy uważa pani, że to właściwe, iż kraj kandydujący do Unii Europejskiej odwołuje się do kolaborantów nazistowskich Niemiec?
I drugie pytanie dotyczące tych samych kwestii historycznych. Mój kraj, Polska, od 80 lat nie otrzymał reparacji wojennych od Niemiec. Nie ma też żadnej umowy bilateralnej polsko-niemieckiej. Niemcy unikają rozmów, tu również w Unii Europejskiej udają, że to jest sprawa bilateralna. Została wystosowana nota dyplomatyczna do rządu Niemiec.
Niemcy jednak wciąż nie chcą podjąć negocjacji z Polską. Czy wykorzystując fakt prezydencji irlandzkiej oraz to, że komisarzem do spraw praworządności jest irlandzki polityk McGrath, widzi pani rolę dla Komisji Europejskiej, żeby zmobilizować państwo niemieckie do podjęcia negocjacji i dialogu z Polską, ale również do wypłaty zadośćuczynienia dla ofiar II wojny światowej, które są wciąż dyskryminowane?
Polskie ofiary II wojny światowej nie mają drogi sądowej dochodzenia roszczeń, nie mają żadnych świadczeń, które wypłacałby rząd Niemiec. A nie wiem, czy pani wie, rząd Niemiec wypłaca świadczenia żołnierzom Wehrmachtu, SS i innym członkom NSDAP, którzy dopuszczali się podczas II wojny światowej zbrodni wojennych. Dziękuję.
Thank you very much. Now I'll give the floor for two minutes from Greens, Hannah Neumann, floor is yours. Thank you.
Hannah Neumann
Thank you very much, Minister, good to have you here. And first of all, after the Foreign Affairs Council we saw yesterday, I think most of us in this house truly hope that under your presidency we will solve the issue of the trade with the Israeli settlements. That is quite high on our agenda and it is very frustrating to see that we cannot unblock this in the Council given the severe situation that we see in many of these settlements at the moment. Maybe similar points from a Green perspective. First of all, you mentioned Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, but also the escalation geopolitically in the whole region.
Something that is often absent from these debates is the situation of the people inside Iran.
And I think it has to be very important for us as the European Union to make sure that they are not being forgotten. And especially as there is always an incoming, outgoing discussion on lifting the sanctions against Iran, I think we have to be very clear that sanctions that we put in place because of the nuclear program will stay in place as long as we haven't solved the issue of the nuclear program, and sanctions we put in place because of human rights will stay as long as we have a human rights issue with this regime. And on this one, I want the European Union to be very steadfast. There is another issue and it lies somewhere between foreign and domestic policy, and that is transnational repression. This committee and this Parliament has passed two very strong reports on how to counter transnational repression, so how to stop these regimes of basically exporting their repressive practices to the European Union.
And I think it would be crucial under the Irish presidency to get started with implementing it by first of all putting this into the European security strategy as something where we need to work together in the European Union to address it, but then also to fight for a joint definition. We made some suggestions, start data gathering and best practice exchange between member states.
And one last point, you mentioned enlargement. Just be assured that you have this Parliament on your side when it comes to using the window that we have at the moment until I would say rather mid next year to really finish for some of the countries, Montenegro before all, and to uphold the promise of a merit-based process and make sure that those who well reached everything will also become new members of this European Union. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thanks a lot, Ms. Neumann. And now from the Left, Lynn Boylan, Irish Lynn Boylan. Thank you.
Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, agus maidin mhaith, a Phríomh-Aire, and it's unfortunate that we can't use our own language in this committee, but I will continue now in English. My first is just I suppose a comment that I suppose you mentioned Russia's war of aggression and that was welcome, but I suppose what does the Irish government perceive as being a war of aggression when it comes to, for example, Lebanon and Israel's illegal invasion there?
Pardon?
You can.
Lynn Boylan
You can? Ah, okay, well we didn't know. Sorry. So I'll continue in English because I wasn't prepared. So I mean, do we have a definition that we'll be using during this presidency for a war of aggression?
In looking then to the priorities, I first want to ask also about the issue of Palestine. There's a mention of self-determination, but I think it's very clear that there's de facto annexation of the West Bank in breach of international law, which is creating a situation where Palestinian self-determination is effectively impossible. So I'm asking you, Minister, what you're going to do to advance the policies to bring the European Union into full compliance with the July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. And I also ask this, that would you accept in your role, I suppose, as taking on the presidency of the Council, that a ban on settlement trade is in fact a trade competence, it's not a sanction and therefore does not require unanimity at the Council? I'd also just like to ask about Western Sahara and what will the Irish presidency be doing to ensure that the EU contributes to momentum for the long-awaited referendum on self-determination to ensure the rights of the Sahrawi people?
And then lastly, you said that Sudan remains a priority and that you've met with the Gulf states. I would be concerned about the fact that MEPs from your own party voted to not include any mention of the role of the UAE in arming the Rapid Support Forces. And will this be the position taken by the Irish government under their presidency as well?
And will you condemn the atrocities, but also condemn those countries that are facilitating those atrocities?
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much. Last from ECN, Mr. Stoyanov, please, floor is yours to Minister. Thank you.
Stanislav Stoyanov
Thank you, Chair. I will continue in Bulgarian. Приветствам ангажиментите на ирландското председателство за по-сигурна и конкурентоспособна Европа. Самата Ирландия е добър пример за това как благоприятната среда за инвестиции, предприемачество, иновации, стимули за задържане и обратно привличане на талант може да се превърне в устойчив успех и работни места. Приветствам и приоритетите по отношение на сигурността и овладяване на нелегалната миграция.
В тази връзка моето питане към Вас е и молбата ми към Вас е да дадете повече конкретика. Какви са конкретните действия, които Вие смятате за необходими по отношение на повишаване на конкурентоспособността? И наистина моля да разкажете малко по-детайлно това Ваше виждане.
И също така по отношение на сигурността, как Ирландия може да използва отношенията си със съседите и партньорите по света, включително Обединеното кралство и Съединените щати, за да допринесе за прекратяване на войната в Украйна, която вече продължава над четири години и половина, повече от Втората световна война насам. Благодаря ви.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much. We're gonna continue to rounds of speakers' questions and then you can answer all by the end of the month. Now we can give the floor to Ms. Madame Zovko from EPP. Thank you.
Željana Zovko
Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Minister. It's a real pleasure to see you here after the Galway meeting that we thoroughly enjoyed. My question goes towards the enlargement, one of the priorities of your presidency, and also on preventive diplomacy, how Irish presidency can use lessons learned that you have from withdrawal, Brexit, and the peace maintaining the peace in Northern Ireland and upholding power-sharing agreement.
We have a case in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the same one Dayton Paris Peace Agreement that is not being respected in a full capacity that Croats don't have their electoral rights resolved for many years and for four times they had election of Croat member of the presidency elected by Bosniak majority votes. Recently our Minister of Foreign Affairs Croatian said that the members and international community who travels there should talk to all three parties which was not the case. And just for the record, Paddy Ashdown has dismissed more than hundred I mean has imposed more than 140 decision and dismissed so many public officials and it just disturbed the peace there. I don't think that he used the experience as SAS officer in Northern Ireland. And now Britain is meddling into this European affair in election of High Representative.
Do you intend to do something and to do to do your negotiator and mediator role because this is something that is crucial to be taken care in our immediate neighborhood. And please do take care of the smallest community that still striving and trying to preserve its its political representation because we have elections in October without this electoral law being resolved. So as Irish I really call on you to to do your utmost efforts. Thanks.
Chloé Ridel
Yes, thank you very much and thank you Madam Minister for being here. I would first raise a question on the Middle East. We know that yesterday ministers fell short of banning trade from the settlements. You yourself recalled how it is important for Irish people to have self-determination for countries that don't have it yet. What would be the next steps for banning trade from illegal settlements in the West Bank and also the next steps for suspending the association agreement between the EU and Israel?
This is a key demand also from this Parliament. It has been voted by a majority of this Parliament back in September 2025 and yet the Council fell short on this demand. And I would also like to interrogate you about ICC, International Criminal Court.
Hier encore, Marco Rubio, le secrétaire d'État, a publié une tribune disant qu'ils voulaient démanteler la CPI, il y a donc un objectif très clair pour cette administration américaine. Nous savons que l'Union européenne a les moyens de protéger la CPI en activant notamment le règlement de blocage, quelles mesures prendriez-vous pour faire en sorte que le Conseil puisse valider à la majorité l'activation du règlement de blocage afin de protéger enfin la Cour pénale internationale. Merci beaucoup.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Merci beaucoup, et s'il vous plaît maintenant M. Millán Mon pour deux minutes, merci PPE.
Francisco José Millán Mon
Gracias presidenta. Gracias ministra. Celebro verla de nuevo después de su estancia en Galway hace unas semanas. Quería preguntarle, usted se refirió ahora a Rusia y el último paquete de sanciones, tengo entendido que la pesca al final se ha excluido. ¿Puede confirmarme eso?
Es lo que he leído en la prensa esta mañana, me parece que la pesca se ha pospuesto por así decirlo su inclusión en el paquete de sanciones.
Siendo español, tengo que hablarle de América Latina, como es natural. Las relaciones con esta región hay que incrementarlas. Tenemos un gran instrumento con el acuerdo UE-Mercosur. La parte comercial tan controvertida está ya en aplicación provisional. Mi petición, ministra, es que ustedes en este semestre no abandonen la parte política y de cooperación.
Ya sé que los trámites son más complejos, sobre todo en lo que se refiere a los países de América Latina para poner en marcha esta aplicación provisional del acuerdo, pero quisiera que no lo olviden. Tampoco insisto en que no debemos mirar de o dejar de mirar a lo que está pasando en Cuba. Nosotros los europeos también deberíamos contribuir a que las cosas se muevan en Cuba. La alta representante Kallas nos dijo hace un par de meses que el acuerdo había que revisarlo. Yo estoy de acuerdo en que este Parlamento ha pedido incluso la suspensión del acuerdo de forma mayoritaria, del acuerdo de diálogo político y cooperación con el régimen castrista, que no ha servido realmente para incrementar las libertades.
Por eso le pediría que no olviden este trimestre este asunto. Y empecé con pesca y termino con pesca. Usted también es responsable de comercio internacional en su país. Estamos negociando acuerdos de libre cambio con los países del sudeste asiático. Mi petición es que no olviden, por favor, el carácter tan sensible que tienen las conservas de atún.
Estos son países grandes productores con unos precios y unos costes mucho más bajos que los europeos.
Las conservas de atún son muy sensibles en determinadas regiones costeras, en particular, por ejemplo, en España, concretamente en Galicia, que es mi constituency. No olviden que estos son productos muy sensibles y que tengan mucho cuidado en las negociaciones con estos grandes productores asiáticos. Muchas gracias.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much. And now from ECR, Mr. Sell, floor is yours for two minutes. Thank you.
Alexander Sell
Vielen Dank, Frau Vorsitzende. Vielen Dank, Frau McEntee, dass Sie uns hier besuchen kommen im Ausschuss. Gestern haben sich ja hier in Brüssel die Außenminister der EU getroffen. Es ging um die Finanzierung der Ukraine und auch der deutsche Außenminister hat 140 Milliarden Euro in Aussicht gestellt für die nächsten zwei Jahre. Es sind vor allem die Europäer und die Kanadier, die das bezahlen, weil die Amerikaner aus der Finanzierung ausgestiegen sind.
Die deutsche Bundesregierung hat ungefähr 100 Milliarden Euro seit dem Beginn des Krieges an Kiew überwiesen. Deutschland trägt damit ungefähr die Hälfte der 200 Milliarden Euro, die aus Europa nach Kiew geflossen sind. Und auch Sie, Frau McEntee, haben Sie hier mehrfach betont, wie wichtig Ihnen die Unterstützung der Ukraine ist. Sie haben Selenskyj volle Solidarität zugesprochen und sich auch dafür ausgesprochen, dass Sie sich einsetzen möchten, dass die Finanzierung sichergestellt wird. Ich habe deswegen mal nachgesehen, wie viel Geld eigentlich die irische Regierung an Kiew überwiesen hat und es sind ungefähr 500 Millionen Euro seit Beginn des Kriegs.
Jetzt ist Deutschland - ist Irland natürlich ein viel kleineres Land als Deutschland. Trotzdem steht die Unterstützung aus Irland in keinem Verhältnis. Pro Kopf gerechnet hat jeder Deutsche ungefähr 1200 Euro an die Ukraine gezahlt, ein Ire dagegen nur ungefähr 70 Euro. Das heißt, die deutschen Steuerzahler tragen mit weitem Abstand die Hauptlast des Kriegs in der Ukraine, obwohl die finanzielle Hauptlast, obwohl die Deutschen viel weniger Vermögen haben als die Iren. Es gab gerade eine Studie der Schweizer Großbank UBS, wonach die Iren ungefähr ein doppelt so hohes Medianvermögen haben wie die Deutschen.
Ich möchte Sie deshalb fragen, was heißt das, wenn Sie hier im Namen der irischen Ratspräsidentschaft mehr Geld für die Ukraine fordern, wer ist denn damit gemeint? Und ist die irische Regierung bereit, den Iren genauso viel abzufordern, wie die deutsche Regierung den Deutschen abverlangt? Und wenn nein, warum nicht? Sind Sie etwa der Auffassung, dass das Geld falsch investiert ist, und wären Sie dann bereit, sich für eine diplomatische Lösung des Konflikts einzusetzen?
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much. I'll give the floor now to Mr. Brown for two minutes. Thank you.
Grzegorz Braun
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Madam.
You talk peace, prosperity, and progress, I heard. That is very nice, but how do you want to have peace while at the same time you preach, you preach war by supporting the Kiev regime without any alternative? The regime that is nurturing traditions of Ukrainian Nazi genocidal organizations that killed probably hundreds of thousands of people, Polish people, during and after the Second World War. And now you have Ukrainian army units having badges, having emblems of SS Galician formations. Do you want to invite such people to European Union?
The question is how can the European Union afford accession of such nations and countries, not only talking about their Nazi traditions and values, talking also money, because accession, enlargement takes costs. And since Ukraine theoretically means around 30 million people, how much money would that cost European Union? We already pay costs of your support of that regime. You must, you obviously remember spring 2022 when the peace agreement was already discussed and it was ready, and then the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson went to Kiev and the war went on for another four years. So would you stop such peace agreements taking the position that you have now?
Thank you very much.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you Mr. Braun, and then I will give to Mr. Reuten of S&D for two minutes, thank you.
Thijs Reuten
Thank you very much, Chair. Dear Minister, I must say I have high expectations of your presidency. And I have the feeling that you actually want to improve something, that you actually want to shake things up a little bit. And on EU foreign policy, can we expect, for example, from you also within the closed walls of the Council meetings that you will also urge colleagues to not go for self-binding unanimity, for example, or to be as creative as possible when it comes to enlargement, as also my colleague already referred to? Because we actually need a little bit of determination and sense of urgency.
Because I have the feeling that too many countries, too many country representatives think that we have a lot of time. And we don't. And I think I'm at the right address with you. So I really want to ask you a little bit about your approach, about the culture that you want to introduce with the colleagues. And a last point on Ukraine.
We said many times here from the Parliament that statements of condemnation of Russian attacks don't save lives. What does save lives is sending much-needed air defense now to Ukraine. So I hope that you can personally address your colleagues and say, "Look, those of you, those of the member states that still have these systems in stock, please send them now to Ukraine." And maybe you can work on that also on the short term.
On the long term, Ukrainians are very capable of producing their own weapons, but they need the air defense now. Thank you.
Malika Sorel
Merci, Madame la Présidente. Madame la Ministre, je souhaite à l'Irlande une pleine réussite dans sa mission de présidence car l'Union européenne en a bien besoin. Dans votre discours, tout est bien, mais cela reste purement théorique à mes yeux. Je vous donne des exemples, Madame la Ministre. Nous voulons une relation transatlantique forte, très bien.
Mais pour avoir une relation forte, il faut être deux. Or Donald Trump nous maltraite régulièrement et il vient même de menacer l'Espagne. Qu'allons-nous faire ? L'Union européenne va-t-elle continuer à se laisser humilier ? Cela a des conséquences parce que d'autres pays comme le Sud global nous regardent.
Donc sur le Moyen-Orient, vous avez donné de bonnes intentions. Quid de l'application du concept de destructeur-payeur ? Nous avons Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu qui détruisent le Liban, la Palestine, l'Iran et ils détruisent y compris ce que l'Union européenne finance. Quand allons-nous appliquer ce principe ?
Comment de nouveau l'Union européenne peut-elle être respectée si elle ne fait rien ? Sur les élargissements, Madame. J'ai assisté à plusieurs réunions où étaient énumérées une multitude de grandes inquiétudes par rapport à certains pays candidats. Pourtant, les institutions de l'Union européenne persistent dans ce qui n'est autre qu'une fuite en avant. Et pourquoi cela m'inquiète ?
Parce que je pense que ça pourrait être suicidaire pour l'Union européenne. Est-ce qu'il n'est pas temps de se poser un certain nombre de questions sérieuses et d'analyser les dossiers un peu plus en profondeur ? Et dernier point, sur l'Ukraine. Je suis 100 %, je le redis, 100 % d'accord sur l'aide. Mais je trouve que c'est devenu une religion et que ça focalise notre attention au détriment, comme vous l'avez dit, de beaucoup de menaces à travers le monde.
J'ai une interrogation. La Russie n'a pas réussi à détruire l'Ukraine, et heureusement. Comment pouvons-nous continuer à imaginer qu'elle peut détruire toute l'Union européenne et ainsi absorber toute notre énergie ? Je le redis, dans le monde, et vous l'avez dit également, il y a énormément de menaces. Donc toute l'énergie que l'on focalise quelque part n'est pas ailleurs.
Je vous remercie.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much. And now I will give the floor to the Minister until we end at 10:00. I think she will need this time and even more to answer all the questions. Thank you very much. As a personal note, I will only say as a member of the S&D group that we are very proud of the role of Ireland related to international law, as my colleague Sánchez Amor just said.
So thank you very much for that.
Floor is yours until 10:00. Thank you.
Helen MCENTEE
Thank you very much and thank you to everyone for their questions and indeed their comments. And I'll repeat again, I look forward to working with everybody in the six months ahead. To start with the first question in terms of Global Europe, in terms of the Council and the Parliament position, I mean, what I want is for us to be able to ensure we have the right structures in place so that dialogue and engagement can take place. I think we're at the point now, obviously, where we have the first negobox, where we have a figure that's been presented for the Global Europe. And I suppose we're trying to balance the fact that for all of us, particularly when we look at our foreign objectives, when we look at our international policies, we want to do more.
We need to do more because of the changing global environment. And at the same time, there are other priority areas as well where we want to continue to do more. So we're in a position now where we find ourselves in most governments when you're agreeing your budget. We want to spend more, but we have to identify how we find that money as well.
So for the next two months over the summer we will be engaging directly with member states to try and identify what are the possible options in moving forward for financing, what are the possible options in terms of new resources but also where are people's priorities and where can we find that middle ground specifically for the Global Europe fund itself. And as you rightly said, the trilogues won't start until after an overall figure is agreed, which we are ambitious that we will agree it during our presidency. I would at the same time like for us to be able to engage to work through the different files so that we're not starting with the new presidency in January is not starting from scratch. So this is where your question around that engagement between the Parliament and the Council I fully support. I think where we can find as many mechanisms as possible for that dialogue to happen and for there to be an input and an understanding as to what both sides are looking to achieve.
So that's something that we will we will hope to do. In terms of the second question then and and the External Service and the Commission, I mean, I think we always need to look at ways in which the structures and obviously the External Service is relatively new, we need to look at ways in which any of our our services, any of our structures are working and operating and how they complement each other, how the work of the Commission can complement the work of the External Service and vice versa. But I think what I've seen the longer that I'm in the role that I'm in or any of the the work that I've done in Ireland or at European level is that there is always an overlap and that there is close coordination that is needed and that is no different when we talk about the External Service and when we talk about the Commission.
I am keen during our presidency, not just working with Kaja Kallas who's the High Rep, but working more broadly to look at how we can improve our overall approach and our structures. And I know that this is something the High Rep is keen to progress as well. How do we make sure that when we're talking as Europe, we're talking as one voice? How do we make sure we're strategic in the decisions that we're making within the EU, particularly when it comes to external matters as well, particularly when it comes to the multilateral structures and fora that we're also a part of? So I do think it is a constant challenge and a need for us to work to ensure that we're coordinated, that we're working closely together, but also that the appropriate funding is where it's needed as well.
And as I said, I think that's something that you will see a focus on our presidency working with the High Rep, but also working with the Commission. In terms of China, I can say that since taking on this current role in November, it is part of the discussion that we've had across all of my councils, so trade, security and foreign affairs. And it will certainly be a part of our presidency and the focus will be working with the Commission, who only had a quite substantial meeting a number of weeks ago, to set out what that relationship is and what it should be.
And I think we are grappling, you're right, with that question as to what the relationship needs to be. We're all, I think for the most part, of the view that this is an important relationship and will continue to be a very important relationship from a geopolitical strategic perspective, from a security perspective, but also from an economic perspective. At the same time, there are very clearly significant challenges when it comes to trade and when it comes to security also. So the approach that the Commission is taking, the three-pronged approach, looking at how do we have a platform and a dialogue and an engagement with China to develop that relationship, how do we respond to the significant imbalance that is there when it comes to trade, and there's obviously work happening through our competitiveness agenda but more broadly across the various different councils to try and address that. And then thirdly, how do we respond where there are threats?
And we've seen how trade in itself has been used as a, has been weaponized essentially, where the rare earth minerals and decisions that were taken by China could have had a significant impact on our economic security and the stability more broadly. So we have to look at all of these together. And I think that's what the Commission is now working to do. And through our presidency, we will support that approach. And I will, I suppose in particular, work closely with Maroš, our Commissioner on trade, to see how we progress that relationship.
So it will be an important feature of of the presidency. On enlargement in terms of our preferred model I mean we are very clear that it should be merit-based that we want to work with countries and where they have achieved I suppose the targets that are set and where they have achieved what we've asked them to achieve that we move forward with opening files or with closing files. And today I think is a good day. We obviously have a number of meetings taking place where you have the opening of cluster six for Moldova and Ukraine. You have the closing of two files in Albania and you have the closing of two for Montenegro.
So this is the most that we've seen happen since 2002 I think. So we are really ambitious to to keep that momentum moving and that we can get as much achieved as possible and in particular for Montenegro that we would close all files by the end of the year while we continue to work through the the accession treaty for them as well during that time. But we are we are ambitious and I said in my opening statement and many countries can can agree with this or or see this in their own countries as well. Our own membership has utterly transformed our country. So you know from an Irish perspective we want other countries to experience that from a security perspective as well I think it is the right approach for us to take.
And in terms of our relationship with Turkey, I mean look, what I see certainly in my own councils is that there are differing views and there are different relationships and it is challenging for that very reason to often find consensus as to what is the right approach to that relationship and how do we bring it forward. But from an Irish perspective and in the role that we take on, I think dialogue and engagement is always the most appropriate approach in addressing where there are concerns, but also looking at ways in which we can work closely and move forward together as well. And that will be the approach that we are taking. In terms of then the third speaker on Russia, sorry I'm just looking at the questions more generally. Apologies, so in terms of Ukraine and in terms of their accession and their membership, whether it's the accession path or in securing financing, Ukraine, we're very clear and again this is the merit-based process, has to comply with any of the conditionalities that impose what are very high standards, particular emphasis on the rule of law and anti-corruption.
This is a requirement for all candidate countries. So for instance the amended Ukraine plan under the facility was proposed a month ago by the Commission, includes almost a dozen additional steps on the rule of law that Ukraine has to complete in order to secure funding for its recovery.
The rule of law then goes to the heart of anti-corruption, but in general, where there are issues that need to be resolved with member states as well, it is important that we work through them within those structures and within the process itself for membership more broadly. Ms. Neumann, in terms of the Israeli settlements and, sorry, that was just a point. In terms of Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, the people in Iran, we are very clear and Ireland, our position has been clear, but I believe the position of the EU has been clear in condemning the actions of Iran, not least the attacks on its neighboring countries and Gulf countries as recently as last night, but also the treatment of its own citizens, much of which has escalated to the point of where we are today. So any sanctions that are there, we will be very clear in advocating that they remain, particularly as human rights abuses continue, but also the approach that they are now taking in attacking those who are quite literally around the table advocating and directing the MOU and the peace process is utterly reprehensible. And we need to be clear in condemning that.
The very clear message from our Gulf partners yesterday and when I met with many of them last weekend was that Europe needs to remain unified and we need to send a very strong message that the approach and the attacks from Iran won't be tolerated from the EU but also that needs to come across at an international level. So we will continue to work with our US colleagues as well as our engagement with China and other regions to make sure that we are unified in our response to what is happening at the moment. In terms of the transnational repression but more broadly the European security strategy, we had set out and the Commission had set out a number of steps to be able to develop the European security strategy. The first was identifying common threats and you might be aware that yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Council we agreed a document that is more a political document of member states but the next steps are now following that that the European Commission working with the High Rep would set out what it and taking again into consideration each member state's contribution, taking into account each member state's constitutional position and priorities that we would then set out a new security strategy including issues as you've mentioned looking at our overall security, looking at economic security, looking at maritime security, looking at all of these issues. And for our presidency the intention is that we would bring forward a roadmap to then be able to move and implement the strategy more broadly.
So it is moving and I would anticipate perhaps after the summer recess we'll see more clarification around the actual details of the security strategy which we can then move on.
again in terms of the enlargement you just mentioned that to keep that momentum going and that's exactly what we're trying to do and I think today is a positive indication of that and we will work closely with member states there are obviously a number of front runners but there are also other countries where we want to see progress that maybe hasn't taken place for for some time as well. in terms of your question then on Lebanon on Palestine in terms of our approach more generally I mean yesterday I think the Irish position perhaps is known in terms of our view overall but yesterday was the first time certainly since I took on this role that the commission had put forward a paper with a number of proposals on how we address the illegal settlements in the West Bank how we in particular address trade with the illegal settlements. while two of those essentially discussed enhancing the customs mechanisms that are already in place the second one then focusing on higher tariffs our own legal view and I think the view of most in the committee was that these actually reinforce apologies these would reinforce trade which the ICJ ruling is very clear should not be happening at all and that we should prohibit it.
The third option specifically focused on banning trade in goods within the occupied territories. What we did not have yesterday was a consensus as to whether or not we could move forward for a vote on that. So the next steps is that our ambassadors will meet to discuss whether or not there is a majority to put forward this particular proposal that would then be voted on. And I think it is important that we make these decisions. There is obviously a proposal that has officially been put on the table already by the commission and that is to suspend the trade element of the EU Association Agreement.
However, that would require Q or that would require unanimity and there is very clearly not that unanimity within the council so a vote has never been put. But our position is that it is important that when the commission has come forward with proposals that we would seek to move forward with a vote to essentially ensure that we are compliant with the ICJ ruling which was very clear in its overall ruling in 2024.
In terms of Sudan, yes I met with the UAE last week, I met with Saudi Arabia, I was in Qatar where we discussed Sudan, where we discussed the situation in Africa and the need for us to work collectively towards a peaceful resolution, particularly as there is a concern that things will escalate even further. And I appreciate that there are obviously different sides, there are different dynamics within that overall conflict that's happening at the moment. It is the worst humanitarian catastrophe on our planet at the moment and so two approaches needed. It is to continue to provide humanitarian support where possible and Ireland and other countries are leading when it comes to this or the EU is leading when it comes to this. But more broadly, how do we ensure that arms are not getting to those who are using them in the conflict?
And I do think that needs further engagement with our partners in the Gulf. I think it needs further engagement with our European colleagues as well and this is something that we will keep firmly on the agenda. In terms of enhancing competitiveness, to create the environment for innovation, what does that mean for us? So I think there's a number of things that you'll see through the presidency. Firstly, we're very keen to progress the One Europe One Market roadmap.
This is obviously something that has for some time, many actions in it, been discussed and been a focus for the EU, but we've perhaps not made as much progress as we would like.
And so the roadmap itself has set out 42 actions, 20 of which the Commission have said they would like to see agreed by the end of this year. And I think some of the key areas for us, it's about the Savings and Investments Union, it's about making it easier for business to access finance. The 28th package, which our own Commissioner will bring forward, is really important in making sure that businesses see less, I suppose, duplication. If you want to establish in Ireland and then establish in Spain and then establish in Poland, that you're not repeating yourself three times over. So how do we simplify things for business?
How do we make it easier to access finance? And how do we make sure that we're supporting industries, entrepreneurs and innovation? And so that focus in particular on innovation as well, in certain industries and sectors, from a digital perspective, from a life science perspective, is really important also. So we want to come at this from a number of different angles, but really importantly some of the key files, the Savings and Investments Union, the 28th regime and that simplification agenda is really, really going to be to the fore. We've already started some of that work on legislative files.
So where we see that certain legislation that has been enacted is perhaps unintentionally prohibiting progress or competitiveness, how do we address that? How do we not deregulate, but how do we make better regulation? And those different areas of work will progress.
In terms of our work with the UK, with the US, with Canada, with important partners, you know, we need to make sure that we are continuing to engage. And for my own informal meetings that will take place, I'm hoping that we will have a number of colleagues and a number of people from outside of the EU that will work with us, particularly on the issue of Ukraine, particularly on the issue of the Middle East as well. We've touched on enlargement on Bosnia-Herzegovina. We will work to try and ensure that a new rapporteur is appointed, and where we can bring our own experience and our own knowledge to how we have progressed what were very complex and similar situations, we will certainly apply that, and we're hoping to do just that on that file, but also in other areas as well. In suspending the association agreement, I touched on that.
The blocking statute, you'll appreciate obviously this was only just mentioned last night by Rubio. I think we need to assess exactly what has been said, but I do think we at a certain point have to look at how we would move on the blocking statute. That wasn't the approach taken when judges had been sanctioned, but this is obviously a significant international body that we fully support, that is absolutely essential for upholding international law and that it remains independent. So we need to assess the statement from Rubio and address how we move forward if action is actually taken by the US.
In terms of Mercosur, you know, we will work with the Commission. We will work, I appreciate the representative has gone, but we will work with the Commission and ensure that the process and the next steps continue as they have set out. And in terms of any new relationship, be it in Indonesia, be it with India, we will make sure that different individual sectors, be it from the agricultural or fisheries side, that we get that balance right and that we support any concerns from member states. On Ukraine, we have provided over 505 million euro directly to date to Ukraine. On top of that then, we have welcomed over 120,000 Ukrainian citizens, all of whom when they came to Ireland have been provided with housing and are still receiving support.
So while directly perhaps per capita it's not exactly the same as others, but we've provided over half a billion. We will provide more funding directly this year. We've supported the loans and then we have quite a significant number of people who are still in Ireland and supported. But we will continue to provide financial support, humanitarian support and defense support as well. In terms of air defense, this was raised yesterday by Minister Sibya.
Obviously NATO agreed 70 billion euro specifically for air defense this year.
The 90 billion euro loan from Europe is also to support air defense, but we need to make sure we are continuing to support them in that way. And then just finally to touch on the US relationship, you know, this is similar to China, this is an extremely important, this is our most important relationship from a trading and from a security perspective. And I appreciate as we all do that it has been a challenging year, if not longer, but we need to work at that relationship. We need to make sure that we are aligned in so far as possible from a trading perspective, that we reduce tariff barriers in so far as possible because they don't benefit anybody, but that we keep those lines of communications open, not just obviously with the president, but also with the administration and with representatives because I think we are aligned more than we have differences. Apologies, thank you.
I am really sorry, Minister, very interesting. And thank you, and I might say that the Minister have taken note by note all of your questions, which it is not always very usual. So thank you, thank you very much for your interest and your depth interest for all the questions. Thank you very much to all of you. Unfortunately, we need to pass to the next point.
Hana Jalloul Muro
So if you don't mind, I will say bye, you know, to the Minister and we get back to begin with the next point. So thank you very much. Now we need to talk about general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027. AFET is contributing to the annual budgetary procedure with budgetary amendments and an opinion to the budget resolution. The upcoming 2027 Union budget will be the last annual budget during this MFF.
This also means that we have unfortunately very little flexibility to increase the budget for external action and enlargement, even though more funds will be objectively warranted to address the many needs around the globe. Our rapporteur for opinion today is our colleague Matjaž Nemec, who will now present his draft opinion. Matjaž, please, you have the floor for five minutes.
Matjaž Nemec
Thank you, thank you, Chair. I will speak in Slovenian. Pred odborom danes predstavljam osnutek mnenja proračuna Evropske unije za leto 2027. Moj predlog poročila je nastal ob zavedanju predvsem več dejstev. Prvič, da sprejemamo zadnji letni proračun trenutnega večletnega finančnega okvirja.
Drugič, da so razmere v svetu in evropski soseščini še naprej močno zaostrene. In tretjič, da je v proračunu izjemno omejen manevrski prostor v poglavju sedem, pa velika proračunska luknja. In četrtič, izjemno stroga omejitev dovoljene dolžine mnenja. Proračun EU ostaja ključno orodje Unije za izvajanje njenih politik, kot tudi za učinkovito zunanje delovanje Unije. A preostanek sredstev v višini 100 milijonov v okviru poglavja šest niso v resnici nezadostna za spopadanja s številnimi izzivi, s katerimi se soočata evropska soseščina in širša mednarodna skupnost.
Prav tako želimo opozoriti na nizko rezervo sredstev instrumenta NDICI, ki znaša le 159 milijonov evrov. V trenutnih geopolitičnih razmerah je takšna rezerva premajhna za odzivanje na obstoječe in prihodnje krize. Kolegi, dovolite mi, da sedaj predstavim glavne vsebinske poudarke mnenja. Še naprej se zavzemamo za nadaljnjo podporo Ukrajini. Finančni instrument za Ukrajino in posojila za podporo Ukrajini sta ključna za njeno finančno stabilnost, obrambo pred rusko agresijo in povojno obnovo.
Mnenje zavzema tudi stališče za uravnoteženo razporeditev sredstev med vzhodno in južno soseščino v letu 2027. Podpreti moramo obnovo Gaze ter politične, gospodarske in socialne reforme. Zaradi trenutnih političnih razmer v regiji je potrebna tudi nadaljnja okrepitev podpore na Zahodnem bregu ter v Jordaniji, Libanonu in Siriji. Poudariti želim tudi pomen podpore palestinski oblasti in Zahodnem bregu za doseganje trajnega miru v regiji. Posebej pomembno vlogo ima agencija UNRWA, ki v Gazi zagotavlja nujno humanitarno pomoč in življenjsko pomembne storitve za palestinske begunce širom po regiji.
Zaradi nazadovanja demokracije v Srbiji v mnenju odbora AFET predlagamo zamrznitev do 50 % sredstev namenjenih Srbiji v okviru instrumenta za reformo in rast za Zahodni Balkan. Ob tem pa izpostavljam večjo podporo pravosodnim reformam, boju proti korupciji, neodvisnim medijem in civilni družbi v Srbiji, saj predstavljajo temelj demokratičnega razvoja. Zaradi omejitve števila znakov mnogih pomembnih predlogov nismo mogli vključiti v samo mnenje, zato jih bomo predstavili preko dopolnil. Preko dopolnil želimo opozoriti denimo na finančni položaj Evropske službe za zunanje zadeve ter kako omejen administrativni proračun otežuje delovanje njene svetovne mreže delegacij, vključno s poudarkom na varnost. Zato je treba okrepiti predvsem naložbe v fizično in kibernetsko varnost.
Za konec mi dovolite, da pozovem k povečanju humanitarne pomoči Afriki, zlasti podsaharski Afriki, kjer so potrebe po razvojni pomoči in odpravljanju revščine še vedno izjemno velike. Spoštovani kolegi, ob koncu naj dodam, da se veselim usklajevanja in se vam že vnaprej zahvaljujem za konstruktiven odnos. Hvala za pozornost. Thank you, Chair.
You each have two minutes. The first one is Mr. Gahler from EPP. Thank you, two minutes.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Very nice and opposite exchange of views. I invite the shadow rapporteurs to take the floor.
Michael Gahler
Yes, thank you very much. I can very much go online with the colleague that but just presented. I have no major issues to add, but I had allowed myself to put forward one amendment. As you rightly highlighted Serbia, I think Albania deserves a similar treatment given the structural and systemic corruption that's ongoing there and the, well, the way governance takes place there. I think we need to have a close watch on on this country as well.
But otherwise, I'm pretty much in line with with what you said. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much. Now from Patriots, Mr. Andreasen, floor is yours. Thank you.
Ms. Andreasen, sorry.
Mieke Andriese
Thank you, chair. I will continue in Dutch. Dank aan de rapporteur voor het opstellen van dit ontwerpadvies. We hebben echter fundamentele bezwaren tegen de richting die in het advies wordt gekozen. Allereerst kunnen we ons niet vinden in de oproep om de Europese begroting uit te breiden.
Terwijl de onderhandelingen over het nieuwe MFK nog bezig zijn, kiest dit advies al nadrukkelijk voor hogere uitgaven.
Voor ons is dat onaanvaardbaar. Nederland behoort al tot de grootste nettobetalers van de Europese Unie en de rekening mag niet opnieuw bij onze belastingbetaler worden neergelegd. Daarnaast bevat het advies verschillende voorstellen om extra middelen vrij te maken voor het externe optreden van de Unie, waaronder voor Gaza, de Westelijke Jordaanoever en UNRWA. Ook op dit punt zullen wij amendementen indienen. Europese middelen moeten aantoonbaar het Europese belang dienen en mogen nooit terechtkomen bij organisaties of structuren waar ernstige zorgen bestaan over terrorisme, corruptie of gebrekkig toezicht.
Tot slot kunnen wij geen steun leveren aan passages die vooruitlopen op verdere uitbreiding van de Europese Unie of die daarvoor extra financiële ruimte creëren. Wij zijn principieel tegen verdere uitbreiding van de Europese Unie. Onze inzet tijdens onderhandelingen is daarom het volgende: een kleine Europese begroting, duidelijke prioriteiten, minder uitgaven voor extern beleid en geen financiële voorbereidingen voor verdere uitbreiding van de Europese Unie. Dank u wel.
Thank you very much. Now from ECR, is there anyone who would like to take the floor? Or Renew? No? Then Greens, Stineke, Ms. Stineke is not there.
The Left, Mr. Demirel? No. Very easy name for you today.
From EPP, is there anybody? So then if there any other colleagues want to do any catch the eye, I think I'll give the floor to our rapporteur, Matjaž Nemec, for final remarks.
Matjaž Nemec
I would like just to thank you to all of you and, yeah, let's bring this ship into the port. Thank you so much.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you for your work, indeed. And then be informed that we have two deadlines for amendments. The deadline for budgetary amendments is set for tomorrow, 15th of July, at 12:00. The deadline for amendments to the draft opinion is the day after tomorrow, 16th of July, as well as 12:00 again. Please note that coordinators agreed on a procedure in English only, given the limited time available and the introduction of a new IT tool for the tabling of budgetary amendments.
Please also note that we experienced a slight delay with the deployment of the new IT application to table budgetary amendments called IPIS, I-P-I-S.
It will allow you to easily table budgetary amendments just as you use AT4AM for normal reports. Thank you. IBIS is now available since yesterday evening and you are kindly invited to use this new system. Members who have already submitted their amendments via the Word form do not need to reintroduce their amendments in IBIS. For everybody else, please do use the new system.
To vote in AFET on the budgetary amendments will take place immediately after the summer recess on 1st of September and the vote on the opinion on the 10th of September. As usual, the vote in plenary is scheduled for the October second part-session. And this concludes our agenda item. Thank you to all colleagues for their engagement. Have a nice day.
Thanks. Now, next item on our agenda is strategic political relations with Australia, potential for deeper ties in the face of a volatile international order. The draft report on the strategic political relations with Australia is going to be presented by our rapporteur, Ms. Sofko. The EU and Australia, I'm going to give a brief introduction, share a robust partnership built on common values, principles and mutual interest.
In today's complex geopolitical landscape, it is in our shared interest to strengthen cooperation, fostering security and prosperity in our interconnected world. This is evident through the recent signing of the EU-Australia security and defense partnership, the conclusions of negotiations of the free trade agreement, and Australia's associations to the Horizon Europe program. Let us now hear from our rapporteur, Ms. Žovko, on how she assesses the potential for further deepening ties with Australia. So the floor is yours for five minutes. Thank you very much.
Željana Zovko
Right, thank you, Madam President, Chair, dear colleagues. Over the past decades, relations between European Union and Australia have evolved well beyond their traditional focus on trade and political dialogue. Today, they have become an increasingly strategic partnership, reflecting the growing interdependence between European and Indo-Pacific security. My report is built around the key areas where closer cooperation can deliver concrete results. On our strategic partnership, the report recognizes Australia as one of the EU's key partners in the Indo-Pacific and underlines the region's importance for global trade, freedom of navigation, and international security.
It supports closer cooperation to strengthen resilience, diversify supply chains, reduce excessive strategic dependency and advance our shared de-risking objectives. On foreign and security policy, the report highlights our cooperation in multilateral organizations including the United Nations, the G20, the WTO and the OECD and welcomes Australia's contribution to upholding the rules-based international order. It also commends Australia's continued support for Ukraine through military assistance, humanitarian aid, sanctions against Russia and efforts to ensure accountability. The report addresses the changing strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific including China's growing military assertiveness and economic coercion and calls for closer coordination with Australia and other like-minded partners including the United States. On security and defense, the report welcomes the EU-Australia security and defense partnership and calls for deeper cooperation on maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, counter-terrorism, defense innovation and emerging technologies.
It also recognizes the contribution of regional security frameworks such as the Quad, AUKUS and Five Eyes to regional stability. Regarding the Pacific, the report underlines the strategic importance of the Pacific Island countries and encourages closer cooperation with Australia on connectivity, diplomatic capacity building, sustainable development and regional security. On economic security, the report welcomes the conclusion of negotiations EU-Australia free trade agreement, which will strengthen investment, diversify trade, improve supply chain resilience and reinforce cooperation on critical raw materials. It also welcomes the declaration of intent between the European Investment Bank and Australian Strategic Investments. On digital and green transition, the report supports closer cooperation on digital governance, emerging technologies and online safety, while welcoming continued cooperation on climate and environmental issues.
On research, innovation and people-to-people ties, the report welcomes Australia's association to Horizon Europe and the new opportunities it creates in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, clean energy, maritime research, space and other strategic sectors.
It also supports greater mobility for students, researchers and young professionals. Finally, on the governance of our partnership, the report calls for elevating EU-Australia relations to a strategic partnership through regular leader summits and more structured parliamentary dialogue between our two parliaments. Dear colleagues, at a time when geopolitical tensions continue to rise, strengthening relations with like-minded partners is no longer simply desirable, it is strategically necessary. The EU and Australia are entering a new strategic phase of their partnership and my report sets out concrete priorities to build on the strong foundation already in place. I look forward to working with colleagues from all political groups and welcome your comments and amendments.
The deadline for amendments, and I believe you will also say that, is 9th of September. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much, Ms. Žovko, very interesting indeed, and thank you for your work. Now I'll give the shadow rapporteurs the word for two minutes. First one is S&D, Mr. Cremer. Thank you.
Tobias Cremer
Thank you, Chair, and I want to begin by extending my thanks to the rapporteur for an excellent first draft, which I'm sure will serve as a very strong basis for our work, and I look forward to that cooperation.
This own-initiative report on the relations between the EU and Australia really comes at an absolutely critical moment, at a moment where we see geopolitical conflict on our own continent, in the Middle East, but also in the Indo-Pacific with the assertiveness of some powers who are not following the rules anymore, but where we're also at a moment of huge transition when it comes to technology, AI, when it comes to the freedom of seas, when it comes to economic coercion and also when it comes to supply chains, when it comes to critical raw materials. In all of these issues, Australia is indeed an absolutely essential partner and a strategic partner for Europe and has to become so much more in the future. We already see the positive signs with the security and defense agreement, we see the positive signs with the free trade agreement between the EU and Australia, but I think what this initiative report can do and should do, and it is the first of its kind, which also makes it historical in that respect, is to bring these steps into a coherent and strategic framework. So not thinking in silos, but really bringing a strategic idea into this, and this is I think what we will try to also push for together with the rapporteur and the other shadows of really saying what is the added benefit here that the European Parliament can be in putting meat on the bones of the agreements that we already have, but also really providing a coherent and comprehensive framework of saying where do we want this relationship to go in the future and what can we concretely do to elevate it on this new strategic level.
In some ways the EU and Australia may never have needed each other as much as they do now and it is in the mutual interest of our our European peoples but also of Australia that we really work really closely together to address the global challenges of the world and in the future have a much stronger cooperation. Thank you.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you very much Mr. Kremmer and now from Patriots Ms. Andriesse.
Mieke Andriese
Thank you chair, I will continue in Dutch again. Dank aan de rapporteur voor het opstellen van dit ontwerprapport. Wij verwelkomen de realistische benadering in het rapport van een diversificatie van aanvoerketens, de samenwerking op het gebied van kritieke grondstoffen en de expliciete erkenning van de Verenigde Staten als strategische bondgenoot. Ook de positieve verwijzing naar AUKUS, de Quad en Five Eyes kunnen op onze steun rekenen. Tegelijkertijd hebben wij bezwaren tegen de manier waarop deze samenwerking wordt vormgegeven.
Een gezonde samenwerking met Australië wordt in dit rapport aangegrepen om opnieuw meer Brusselse structuren en bevoegdheden uit te breiden. Daarmee dreigt een goede bilaterale relatie te worden gebruikt voor verdere centralisering van het Europees buitenlands beleid. Daarnaast kunnen ons niet vinden in de koppeling van de samenwerking met Australië aan klimaatneutraliteit in 2050 en de bredere Brusselse klimaatagenda. Tenslotte kijken wij kritisch naar bepalingen die de rol en bevoegdheden van Europese instellingen verder uitbreiden ten aanzien van een bevriende en soevereine partner.
Wij steunen nauwe samenwerking met Australië, maar daarvoor zijn geen nieuwe Brusselse structuren, geen verdere centralisering en geen extra bevoegdheden voor de Europese Unie nodig. Ik dank u.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Ja, herzlichen Dank. Ich spreche Deutsch. Entgegen meiner Vorrednerin begrüßen wir ausdrücklich diesen Bericht. Aus außenpolitisch-Sicherheitsgründen ist die Zusammenarbeit mit Australien ganz wesentlich. Wir sehen, dass das, was wir in Europa erleben, Krieg in Europa, hybride Angriffe, Cyberangriffe, auf der anderen Seite der Welt genauso stattfinden.
China ist übrigens der große Beobachter dessen, was hier stattfindet und ist auch eine große Bedrohung im Indopazifik. Und die Zusammenarbeit mit Australien und darüber hinaus mit Neuseeland und anderen Staaten ist elementar wichtig. Und es ist keine weitere Befugnis in Brüssel, sondern ist das Pragmatische, dass die Zusammenarbeit der Länder in der freien Welt eng sein muss, auch wenn wir weit auseinanderliegen. Und ich begrüße das ausdrücklich, dass wir unseren Blick weiten, denn die Probleme gehen einmal rund um den Globus, die sind eben nicht nur hier in Europa, sondern auch dort. Und insofern vielen Dank für den Vorbericht.
Thank you very much. From Greens? Nobody. Left? Nobody wants to take the floor.
ECR? No. Then if there nobody would like to take the catch the eye, thank you all colleagues for your observations. Let us now hear from the EEAS. I give the floor to Ms. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz for two minutes.
Thank you very much.
Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz
Thank you, Chair. The EEAS welcomes the Parliament's interest and support to the EU's cooperation with Australia. The draft report presented today and your discussion contribute greatly to identifying and seizing opportunities for strategic cooperation. Australia is an important partner for the EU. As highlighted today, the interconnection between security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific is clear.
Partnerships with like-minded countries, including Australia, support our security, including economic security and our resilience. The EU and Australia are aligned in their commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order. The EU values Australia's consistent support to Ukraine.
As the EU increases its engagement in the Indo-Pacific, working with Australia supports our objectives in the region. The conclusion of the free trade agreement, if approved by the Council and the Parliament, will send a strong signal of our commitment to rules-based international trade and will open enormous commercial opportunities for the EU. Exchanges under the security and defense partnership are well underway. The partnership offers a framework to build cooperation on security challenges that transcend geographical distance and where we have much to gain from working together. Equally, the conclusion of negotiations for Australia to associate with Horizon Europe presents the opportunity to boost our already thriving scientific partnership.
Exchanges through our partnership on critical minerals will strengthen supply chains and resilience. Lastly, political dialogue at all levels is regular, frequent, and constructive, from leaders' meetings and meetings of the High Representative with her counterpart down to joint committee meetings. These and other areas of cooperation recognize the value of a strong Australia-European Union partnership in addressing shared global challenges and supporting prosperity and security. The engagement of the Parliament in promoting this agenda is critical, and once again, allow me to express our gratitude for your engagement and leadership in building this relationship. Thank you.
Now I will give the floor back to our rapporteur for last remarks, Ms. Sopkova. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Željana Zovko
Right, thank you, thank you colleagues for a very constructive exchange. I think that today's debate has shown that a broad consensus that Australia is one of the European's closest and most reliable strategic partners and that our cooperation has become much broader than trade alone. Many of your intervention reinforce the importance of working together on security, economic resilience, innovation, the rules-based international order. I will consider all the all the remarks and also those who think that they can do alone.
In a volatile world, the opportunity that has brought us in the position that this trade agreement and the whole agreement that we are doing with Australia, strategic agreement, is just a momentum in which we have to catch the opportunity to also show our strength and, as some of Australia's partners are saying, to show that this common West sticks together in the most volatile geopolitical circumstances and that we have to continue and show that rules-based order, also strategic partnership and everything that we have built here in Europe and together what was built in Australia and in the democracy can go hand in hand and that the distance does not matter if we are on the same wavelength. Thank you so much.
Hana Jalloul Muro
Thank you. I just, our rapporteur will take into account today's contribution. Please be informed that the deadline for amendments is set on 9th September at 5:00. The voting in AFET will take place in 10 November and the vote in plenary is scheduled for December. This concludes this agenda item.
Thank you to all colleagues for their engagement. And I must say that for the next point of the agenda that will begin at 11:00, exchange of views with Andreas von Bekkerath, it will, we are going to take a recession or a break of like 20 minutes because the ambassador has not arrived yet and the next person who is Mr. Gahler that will chair the next point of the agenda. So we have 20 minutes to have a coffee. Thank you every one of you for attending this morning session and thank you, Ms. Sofko, for your work. Thank you again.
And of course, the EEAS.
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