Ireland signs up to ‘opt-in, opt-out’ EU defence agency
IRELAND is now officially a member of Pesco – the new European defence agency, where the Government insists it can opt in and out of European -supported military missions.
“Pesco is now live,” said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at its launch in Brussels this week.
Pesco is part of the provisions in the Lisbon Treaty. “It’s been 10 years since the Lisbon Treaty was signed and now has finally materialised,” he said.
Ireland is one of 25 member states that has agreed to take part in it. Denmark and Malta have refused, as has the UK.
“We’re doing so on an opt-in, opt-out basis and the kind of things we see ourselves opting in to in the years ahead are action against things like cyber crime, cyber terrorism, also military training together,” Mr Varadkar said. “Given that we serve together on UN, Nato and European missions, it makes sense that we train together.”
He also said Ireland would “take an interest in maritime surveillance such as the missions in the Mediterranean Sea”, where Ireland’s navy has been active in saving the lives of thousands of refugees and migrants coming from Africa.
“The protection of our fisheries and seas and harbours is also crucial to Pesco,” he said. “We believe it is important for Ireland to be involved with Pesco so we can shape it to protect what’s ours. It’s also an important part of European solidarity.”
Pesco was first blocked by the French parliament in the 1950s and later by Britain, which feared an EU army. The pact aims to end wasting euro by split defence policies and Europe’s heavy reliance on Nato.
“No one EU country can provide security to its citizens on its own,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said.
“That’s why three-quarters of EU citizens support this,” she added in a speech on Wednesday night, referring to EU surveys.