Brendan Smith urges stronger EU stance on Russia, supports Ukraine
Deputy Brendan Smith spoke on EU-Russia relations, eastern partners and the Northern Ireland Protocol, calling for full implementation of the Minsk Agreements and firmer EU pressure on Russian actions. He welcomed Ireland's new embassy in Ukraine, urged a future embassy in Tbilisi, and pressed for removal of trade obstacles affecting Northern Ireland.
Call for EU pressure on Russia
He told the Taoiseach the EU should make clear to the Russian leadership the need for a political commitment to stop actions against the EU, its Member States, and third countries east of the European Union.
Minsk Agreements and EU principles
He emphasised the need for full implementation of the Minsk Agreements and referred to the five principles guiding the EU's approach - including strengthened relations with Eastern partners, resilience to Russian threats, and selective engagement on issues such as counter-terrorism and climate. He noted the higher representative, Borrell, produced a comprehensive report on the status of relations with Russia.
Diplomatic expansion - Ukraine and Georgia
He welcomed the expansion of Ireland's global footprint with the opening of the Irish embassy in Ukraine and asked the Taoiseach for a commitment, not in the distant future, to open an embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. He underlined that both Ukraine and Georgia have suffered occupation and human rights violations.
Hybrid threats - cyber attacks and disinformation
He warned that non-military warfare - including cyber attacks, disinformation and propaganda - are continuous and serious incidents of aggression that must be tackled and dealt with seriously.
Northern Ireland Protocol and cross-border trade
Speaking as a representative of two Southern Ulster counties, he stressed the interdependence of the North-South economy and businesses that cross the border. He said the EU must honour the Protocol while ensuring the best possible efforts are made to remove obstacles to trade, because disruption in Northern Ireland disrupts the economy throughout the entire country.
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Thank you, Cancora. I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Taoiseach, I think it's important that at every European Council, the EU should make it clear to the Russian leadership the need for them to demonstrate a clear political commitment to stop actions against the EU, its Member States, and also importantly against third countries that are east of the European Union. We need full implementation of the Minsk Agreements. I think it's important that the EU intensifies its cooperation with eastern partners, and I can well appreciate that at this particular time, EU enlargement is not a priority. due to so many other pressing issues, but it's one that should be advanced as incrementally as possible. In that context, Taoiseach, and from a national point of view, I welcome the expansion of the Irish global footprint, particularly with the opening of the Irish embassy in the Ukraine, and I hope that you would be able to give a commitment not to a distant future to the opening of an embassy in Tbilisi in Georgia. I think it's very important in that respect. And when we think of those two countries, Ukraine and Georgia, they have suffered from the occupation by Russia and also human rights violations, and it's not accepted. And nowadays, we have non-military warfare, we have cyber attacks, we have disinformation and propaganda, and all of these issues need to be tackled and dealt with in a very serious manner, because they are continuous, serious incidents of aggression. Taoiseach, just with regard to the Northern Ireland Protocol, I think it's very important, and I represent two of the Southern Ulster counties, and a lot of businesses cross border, and a lot of our companies are interdependent, the economy North and South is interdependent. The EU must continue to honour its agreement, but we also must ensure that the best possible efforts are made to remove all obstacles to trade, because any disruption to trade in Northern Ireland is disrupting the economy throughout the entire country. Deputy Brendan Smith. I take your point in relation to the Russian situation. I think there was a good meeting and discussion at a prior Council meeting for some length of time. The five principles that govern the European Union's approach in the relationship is full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Agreements, strengthen relations with Eastern partner countries, and that was reiterated at the last Council meeting, and quite a number of member states articulated the need to reach out and engage with Eastern partner countries and other countries, indeed, of Central Asia. Straightening EU resilience to Russian threats, that is a key principle. Selective engagement then with Russia on certain issues, such as counter-terrorism, climate change, and, of course, support for people-to-people contacts. Those are the five principles that govern EU member states and the European Union, generally, in its relationship with Russia. The need for a unified approach across the European Union is also extremely important. We support, Ireland supports an openness to selective engagement in certain areas, particularly climate security, Iran, and Syria, but we believe that the pacing of that engagement is key, because I think the behavior of Russia in recent times, in many areas, I think, as we all know, has been unacceptable, and so that's where the meeting is at the moment. I think there's further work to be done. The higher representative, Borrell, produced a very good comprehensive report on the status of the relationship with Russia right now, and where he sees it going forward. The general consensus was that we would pace the engagement, but also see what's the best model for engagement from the European Union with the European Union. On the protocol, and sorry, in terms of the global footprint, I do take your point in relation to Tbilisi, and I will engage with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in respect of that, and as you say, the Ukraine, we're making progress. As you say, the Ukraine, we're making progress. As you say, the Ukraine, we're making progress.
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