The EU is the largest donor of overseas aid in the world, giving a total of €46 billion in aid to developing countries in 2007. With all this money being spent on aid, it is essential that the EU has a strong and coherent development strategy.

The Lisbon Treaty makes eradication of poverty the primary aim of the Union’s development policy (Article 21.2).

It also strengthens the ability of the Union to shape international development policy by coordinating member states’ positions in international organisations (Article 34) and giving the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy a greater voice on issues that all 27 governments agree on (Article 27).

“In a world where the combination of man-made and physical disasters is increasing and will probably continue to increase, it is important that Europe equips itself with the policy framework to respond to that.”

–Tom Arnold, Chief Executive of Concern

“Trócaire welcomes the fact that the Lisbon treaty makes poverty reduction the main objective of EU development policy. That means the €46 billion of aid money the EU gives annually cannot legally be used for purposes other than tackling poverty.”

Justin Kilcullen, Director of Trócaire

Will Europe ever stand up for what it believes in?

Europe is the biggest donor of overseas aid in the world. The European common market is the biggest economy in the world. Yet, the common European approach to foreign policy is defined by one thing – there is no common approach.

Vladimir Putin dealt with 17 different presidencies of the EU during his time as president of Russia. Understandably, he and others take advantage of this lack of consistency to pursue their own interests, sometimes at the cost of ours. So here are three things which I think will help improve the ability of the governments of the EU to pursue a more effective common foreign policy, when they want to – on issues like stopping the carpet bombing of Palestinian houses, or telling Sudan to stop raping and pillaging the people of Darfur.

If EU states choose to adopt the Lisbon Treaty, the EU will have an External Action Service (Article 27.3). This will include members of national diplomatic services but it will not replace them. It simply helps coordinate their activities if the member states agree a common policy unanimously (veto!). So when we all want something done, it actually happens; when we don’t, it doesn’t.

If we pass Lisbon, the EU also gets a proper High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (Article 27), or as I call it: the HRCFSP (pronounced “hurk-fusp”). This person’s job will be to speak for the member states, but only when all the governments of the Union (veto!) agree to let them. The HRCFSP will be the person who stands up for the EU’s common values of peace, cooperation and human rights, and uses the respect that people worldwide have for Europe to improve the lot of oppressed people around the world.

Lastly, I am looking forward to the improved European presidency (Article 15.5). Right now the presidency rotates between member states every six months. This is stupid, for many reasons. Lisbon will create a two and a half year “president,” or in reality a chairperson, to carry out the decisions of all 27 governments. This will prevent situations like President Sarkozy having to step back from his efforts to negotiate a peace between Russia and Georgia. This resulted in the hapless Czech Presidency being slapped around the playground of international relations by Putin.

The values of the European Union should not be held hostage to its inability to talk to itself or to the inability of one Member States government to not collapse at the first sight of difficulty (again, Czech Republic). I for one think that Europe has the potential to be the strongest voice for peace and justice around the world. I think that a more effective Union that speaks with one voice when it wants to is the best way to send this message to the world. And I think the best way to do this is to vote yes in the Lisbon Referendum.

The EU and Ireland: Same goals, same ideals

“Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality.”

–Bunreacht na hÉireann, Article 29.1

“The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles [of] …democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.”

–Lisbon Treaty, Article 21.1

Lisbon has few genuinely new provisions in the area of foreign and defence policy; it mostly codifies existing procedures based on previous treaties. It retains virtually all previous safeguards, including the unanimity requirement, the absence of any automatic military obligations, specific assurances that Irish neutrality will be respected, and the “triple lock” procedure whereby the approval of the UN Security Council or General Assembly, of the Dáil and of the Government are all required for any Irish participation in a military operation. More fundamentally, we should look at the EU’s record in its external operations and its exclusive focus on peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security which is so much in tune with Irish priorities. Far from being a threat to Irish foreign policy, the Lisbon Treaty’s strengthening of the EU’s security and defence capabilities will enable us to pursue even more effectively the ideals of international peace and humanitarianism which we hold so dear and for which we are so respected around the globe.

Article 42.1 of the Treaty states that the Common Security and Defence Policy is to be used for “peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.” This approach is wholly in line with Ireland’s foreign and defence policy priorities. It is backed up by the EU’s record in its external operations. Since the beginning of 2003 the European Union has deployed 19 civilian missions and 8 missions with a peacekeeping or peace enforcement element. These include EUFOR in Chad and the Central African Republic, commanded by Irish Lieutenant General Pat Nash, which protected refugee camps and supported the delivery of humanitarian aid as part of the UN operation MINURCAT. The EU’s strengths are in its capacity to act with greater urgency than the UN, and its holistic take on crisis management, involving policy instruments from diplomacy to humanitarian assistance to the limited use of military force.

Opponents of the Lisbon Treaty argue that involvement in external EU operations compromises our neutrality, but in fact they are advocating a retreat to an inward-looking isolationism that would prevent involvement in the kind of foreign operation that Irish people legitimately support. Most people do not feel that the kind of work carried out by our peacekeepers and aid workers is in any way in conflict with our neutrality, and given that the EU’s activity in this area is so close to our own, it is difficult to argue that it endangers our neutrality. In fact, the usual criticism of the Government on foreign policy focuses on the idea that we do not do enough to halt atrocities such as those in Darfur, not that we should pull back from this sort of action. The EU enables us to do this in a more effective way than we ever could on our own. Indeed, Lieutenant General Colm Mangan, former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, comments: “Without our involvement in Europe we wouldn’t be able to undertake any kind of peace support as it is our cooperation with our European partners that gives us the capability to engage in peace operations of all natures.”

The Lisbon Treaty enhances our ability to contribute to the kind of international action Irish people support  while leaving any deeper engagement in common defence policy up to us. It categorically states that any move to a common defence would require a unanimous decision of all Member States (Article 42.2). In addition it protects the “specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States,” while the legal guarantees attached to the Treaty clearly state that it “does not affect or prejudice Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.” Lisbon codifies the already existing European Defence Agency (EDA), which has developed technologies for landmine disposal and for detecting chemical and biological weapons. Ireland has so far participated as a full partner in the EDA. This is seen as a critical element in the modernisation of our Defence Force capabilities for international peacekeeping operations.

The Treaty also requires states to “undertake progressively to improve their military capabilities” (Article 42.3), to avoid problems such as the endangering of civilians in Darfur through the lack of helicopters available to the UN mission which caused public outrage in December 2007. This does not necessarily imply additional military expenditure, but more focused spending to get the best possible value for taxpayers’ money. Member State contributions are entirely decided by their own governments. If we agree with the peacekeeping and humanitarian objectives of EU defence policy, we should be in favour of measures to do this more effectively with less danger to European soldiers and less cost to European citizens.

Ireland has a long and distinguished tradition of active engagement to promote peace around the world. Since 1958, we have provided personnel to peace support and humanitarian operations, and in the last number of years we have also pursued this goal in cooperation with our European partners. The Lisbon Treaty will enable to do this more effectively than ever before.

Businesses agree Lisbon is the way forward

GenYES applaud Intel’s Jim O’Hara for his straight-talking approach to the Lisbon referendum.

O’Hara attributes Ireland’s attractiveness as a business destination to our “connectedness to Europe, along with free access to vast EU markets, and our country’s ability to punch above its weight in influencing European affairs as a result of having a solid reputation as a committed team player.”

He said that a Yes vote would send unambiguous signals to EU partners and to global investors that Ireland wants to remain strongly connected to the European Union.

GenYES agree that saying Yes to Lisbon will restore confidence in the Irish economy, but not only that, it will boost the economy by growing the renewable energy, and research and technology industries.

No side are once again spreading myths and untruths says Generation YES

The No side are once again spreading untruths and misinformation about the Lisbon Treaty and obscuring the real issues in Lisbon, particularly around defence policy, says Generation YES.

There is no EU army, and no conscription. Not now, not ever.

What Lisbon will do is to help peace-keepers from different countries co-ordinate their resources and work together in crisis zones, meaning our troops in Chad will have support from other EU states and allowing Ireland to continue our proud tradition of peace-keeping.

The EU was founded to make sure that there could never be another war in Europe.  The Lisbon Treaty allows the EU to continue to pursue the aims of peace, justice and freedom upon which it was founded.

Under Lisbon, EU countries will only be able to use defence policy for peacekeeping, conflict-prevention and strengthening International Security, in accordance with the UN Charter. (Article 43(2) TEU). While the new position of High Representative for Foreign Affairs will make the EU a stronger voice for justice and peace in the world.

A new feature on the Gen YES website is guest blogs.  If you have an idea for a blog let us know at info@generatioyes.ie.

We’re kicking off with some thoughts on fundamental rights protection from Stephen Spillane, who blogs on all things political and European at stephenspillane.com

The Lisbon Treaty will increase your rights

The Lisbon Treaty will increase your rights. The Lisbon Treaty brings in two things which the EU has to take into account when making new directives and regulations. What are these things? The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights will bring together all the rights that have come about through EU Laws and judgments. This document will then have the same status as a treaty meaning everything the EU does must reflect it.

Some say that the Charter is worthless, but if it is worthless why is it too much for the Governments of the UK and Poland?

John Monks, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said in a speech to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in July of this year that: “it was a step forward compared to existing provisions, for example in relation to the legal enforcements of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, commitments to full employment, the social market economy and public services.”

The Charter sets out your rights in six sections: Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens’ Rights, and Justice. Article 2 specifically protects the right to life, so the Charter will not lead to abortion.

The second aspect is that the Lisbon Treaty will allow the EU to sign up to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Ireland is already signed up to this and it has brought about a number of Human Rights for people in Ireland. Having the EU sign up, means that if we think the EU has infringed on our rights we can take them to court. This is an important development for citizens and it means the EU has to be aware of our rights in everything it does.

The EU of course has led to many improvements in Human Rights in this country, in the area of discrimination especially. Equal pay, discrimination in the workplace and other rights protections have been brought in to Ireland thanks to the EU.

So let us keep Human Rights at the core of Europe and Vote Yes on October 2nd.

Blog: http://stephenspillane.com/

Generation YES welcomes the announcement that airtime in the Lisbon 2009 debate will be based on fairness to all interests rather than strict equality.

The strict equality rule meant that small, independent groups and well-resourced and financed political parties had to compete for airtime, leaving little chance for a full and fair debate.  The new guidelines will allow Gen YES and the other Yes organisations to counter misinformation and make sure the 2009 debate will be an honest and lively one that represents many perspectives.