Mr. President,
I should like to thank the Czech Government and you personally for your hospitality and the tremendous work you have done to make today’s Summit meeting possible.
Ireland has long been a strong advocate of strengthening and developing the important relationships between the European Union and its neighbours to the south and the east. As one of the most northerly and westerly Member States, we do so with the overall interests of the Union and of our neighbours at heart.
I was privileged to participate in the Paris Summit last July which gave an important impetus to the Union for the Mediterranean. I hope that today’s discussions will generate the same enthusiasm and desire to move forward with this equally vital engagement between the Union and its eastern neighbours.
I realise that some of our guests from the east view this Partnership as a step on the road to European Union membership, while others see their future relations with the Union in a different light.
For Ireland, the Eastern Partnership is neither a step on the road to accession nor an obstacle to the ambitions of those States which aspire to future EU membership.
Our ties with our neighbours to the east and the south must not become the preserve of geographical groupings within the Union. These initiatives need to carry the full weight of the EU behind them.
Understandably much of today’s discussion will focus on the very difficult global economic situation. I am fully conscious that the recession is having a severe impact on our partners to the east and I welcome the fact that the Eastern Partnership will provide a framework in which to broaden and deepen the economic relationships which already exist. It will also allow for some direct financial assistance.
In focusing on our current economic problems, we should not overlook other core values of the EU, which we hope to share and strengthen through our partnership.
I refer in particular to human rights as represented by the rule of law, democracy and civil society cooperation.
The European Union does not approach these themes in a vacuum. Twenty years ago, many current Member States were on the point of throwing off the shackles of a totalitarian system founded on the negation of the rule of law, an absence of democracy and outright opposition to the very concept of civil society.
The transformation of those countries testifies to the profound impact of an enthusiastic embrace of these core human rights principles. This has culminated in their accession to the Union, where they are among the strongest proponents of human rights standards, including in the conduct of the Union’s external relations.
These principles are not merely pious aspirations. They are fundamental to the development of strong political and economic systems, based not only on the free flow of information between Governments and citizens, but on the free exchange of information which facilitates the development of a sophisticated modern economy and culture. We look forward to the development of the EU-Neighbourhood East Parliamentary Assembly and the establishment of the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership.
In our Declaration on the Eastern Partnership at the March European Council, we emphasised that “shared values including democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights will be at its core”. This remains our ambition and I look forward to seeing these ideas reflected in our Declaration here today.
Thank you Mr. President.