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Report to the Houses of the Oireachtas on Developments in the European Union

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Report to the Houses of the Oireachtas on Developments in the European Union AN ROINN GNÓTHAÍ EACHTRACHA DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Report to the Houses of the Oireachtas on developments in the European Union 1 July 2020 – 31 December 2020 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 3 BREXIT.................................................................................................................................................. 4 Conclusion of EU-UK Negotiations .................................................................................................. 4 Implementation of Withdrawal Agreement and Protocol .............................................................. 5 Readiness for the end of the Transition Period .............................................................................. 5 MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................... 7 CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE ........................................................................................ 9 COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY (CFSP) .......................................................................... 10 COMMON SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY (CSDP).......................................................................... 10 CYBERSECURITY ................................................................................................................................. 11 HYBRID THREATS AND DISINFORMATION ......................................................................................... 11 TERRORISM ........................................................................................................................................ 12 HUMAN RIGHTS ................................................................................................................................. 12 CONFLICT RESOLUTION ..................................................................................................................... 13 DISARMAMENT AND NON-PROLIFERATION ..................................................................................... 13 EU-UN COOPERATION / EU-SPECIFIC UN SECURITY COUNCIL MATTERS.......................................... 14 COMMUNICATING EUROPE INITIATIVE 2020 .................................................................................... 17 ENLARGEMENT AND WESTERN BALKANS ......................................................................................... 22 EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD ......................................................................................................... 23 Eastern Partnership ....................................................................................................................... 23 Central Asia ................................................................................................................................... 24 Council of Europe .......................................................................................................................... 24 Russia ............................................................................................................................................. 25 Ukraine .......................................................................................................................................... 26 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND AFRICA .................................................................................... 28 MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA ........................................................................................................ 30 Algeria............................................................................................................................................ 30 Iran ................................................................................................................................................ 30 Libya .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Lebanon ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Middle East Peace Process ............................................................................................................ 31 Southern Neighbourhood ............................................................................................................. 31 P a g e 1 | 37 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN .............................................................................................. 32 Venezuela ...................................................................................................................................... 32 EU- Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Informal Ministerial Meeting .................................. 32 ASIA – PACIFIC ................................................................................................................................... 33 China .............................................................................................................................................. 33 India ............................................................................................................................................... 33 EU- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting ...................... 34 APPENDIX .......................................................................................................................................... 35 P a g e 2 | 37 INTRODUCTION This report summarises key policy developments in the EU during the six-month period July to June 2020, when Germany held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This report is submitted in accordance with the requirements of Section 2(5) of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002. P a g e 3 | 37 BREXIT Over the period July-December 2020, the Department of Foreign Affairs continued to coordinate the whole-of-Government response to Brexit with the Department of the Taoiseach, including on the negotiation of the future EU-UK relationship, on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and on readiness for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. Conclusion of EU-UK Negotiations On 24 December 2020, the EU and the UK concluded negotiations on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The TCA, together with the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, means that Ireland’s key objectives in the Brexit process have been achieved, in particular: protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland; ensuring the best possible outcome for trade and the economy, notably tariff and quota free trade with the UK and protection of Ireland’s place in the Single Market; It creates a new stable relationship with the UK for the Irish transport and energy sectors and ensures cooperation between police services on these islands continues. However, the agreement does not replicate the status quo. The UK is no longer part of the EU's Single Market or Customs Union, which means that there are now checks and controls for goods moving from, to or through Great Britain. Seamless trade no longer exists. P a g e 4 | 37 Implementation of Withdrawal Agreement and Protocol On 8 December, it was announced that agreement in principle had been reached between the EU and the UK on outstanding issues regarding the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. This positive development came following significant and productive engagement between the EU and the UK on implementation of the Protocol, as provided for under the Withdrawal. Importantly, it included the commitment by the UK to withdraw clauses 44, 45 and 47 of the Internal Market Bill, bringing it back into line with its legal obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. Ireland recognises that for Northern Ireland, and indeed for businesses across the island, adapting to the changes since 1 January has been challenging. We continue to engage with all stakeholders, including with the business community and political representatives in Northern Ireland, to ensure the smoothest possible implementation of the Protocol. Readiness for the end of the Transition Period The whole-of-Government preparation for Brexit continued, with a focus on ensuring Irish citizens and businesses were ready from the end of the transition period. The Government also continued its engagement with our EU partners for responses at the EU level. This work was overseen by an Assistant Secretaries Group on Brexit Readiness, co- chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs. On 9 September the Government published its Brexit Readiness Action Plan. Departments and Agencies intensified their readiness work, including through legislation, supports for business and other sectors and stakeholder outreach. This work was supported by a major and widespread public communications campaign including radio, TV, print and online ads underpinned by a broad range of vital information on supports available and with the steps businesses need to take set out on gov.ie/Brexit. Budget 2021 provided for additional staff for Departments and Agencies to support and carry out checks and controls, bringing the total additional staffing provision, as a result of Brexit, to around 1,500.
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