Crowe attends EU Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Dublin Castle

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Diaspora, Seán Crowe TD, attended the EU Inter-Parliamentary Conference (IPC) on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in Dublin Castle on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 March.

The IPC involves delegates from the national parliaments of EU Member states and also members of the European Parliament, and it is held once every six months by the Parliament of the member state which holds the EU Presidency.

Speaking after the Conference Deputy Crowe said:

“This IPC has provided a very engaging and informative two days for all the delegates and topics centred on issues and instability in Africa and the Middle East.

“This is a timely IPC for Ireland to host because under successive Government’s Ireland’s neutrality has been eroded, through the use of Shannon airport by foreign militaries engaged in war, the use of Irish troops in EU battle groups, and the decision to send Irish troops to Mali. It is also timely for the EU because recently we have seen some EU countries push for the ability to militarily arm rebels in the Syrian conflict.

“Europe’s foreign and security policy must be demilitarised and there needs to be radical cuts in Europe’s military spending. The EU needs to take the lead in promoting peace, security, and development, not war and conflict.

“I raised the importance of separating humanitarian responses and maintaining impartiality, from political and military interventions, in conflict regions, at the IPC with the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

“I also raised the need for a stronger EU response to continued illegal Israeli settlement building in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which are one of the main barriers to a two-state solution. The last four months have seen unprecedented announcements regarding the expansion of settlements by Israel, which is having a huge negative impact on Palestinians quality of life.

“An urgent response from the EU is needed on this issue and the EU should take action on settlements before a two-state solution vanishes completely. While settlements are condemned by the EU as illegal under international law, and an obstacle to peace, remarkably the EU continues to give favourable trade status to Israel and these settlements.

“Time is running out for a two-state solution and the longer the settlement building continues without a strong response from the EU, the more difficult it becomes to resolve the conflict.”