Event recap: EU Security and Defence: Germany and Ireland’s Shared Values

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At the event Colm Brophy TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs said; Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality, along with its rich history of peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, has contributed significantly to global security and is an asset to the European Union.” 

Opening the event, the newly appointed Dr. Canan Atilgan, Head of International Office United Kingdom and Ireland, Konrad Adenauer- Stiftung said: “There is a clear shift in the EU’s approach to security and defence policy. Strong political will and a strategic plan are already in place, signalling a new level of ambition. However, the challenge now lies in translating these intentions into concrete, actionable policies that can effectively enhance the EU’s defence capabilities.”

Germany and Ireland as member states bring two different policy perspectives on security and defence, however citizens in both member states have highlighted their concerns in research on this matter. European Movement Ireland’s annual poll conducted by Amárach Research this year revealed that (56%) of respondents said that Ireland should invest more in its defence and security cooperation within the EU. In a Eurobarometer study in Spring, German citizens cited peace (57%), as the most important value the European Parliament should defend as a matter of priority over the next five years.

Noelle O Connell, CEO European Movement Ireland, underscored the importance of security and defence in the next EU mandate; “Against the backdrop of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine now almost in its third year and the escalating conflict in the Middle East, European security and defence have assumed a greater priority on the EU agenda. They are a timely reminder of the fragility of hard-won peace with the increasing threat to European peace and security by an ever more complex world order. We cannot be complacent. 

Today’s event today is an opportune moment to discuss the challenges that lie ahead for the upcoming new EU mandate, from both the German and Irish perspectives and how we can work to mitigate them in co-operation with our European partners.”

Germany and Ireland as members of the European Union share a commitment to European and global security, and their defence cooperation is shaped by their membership in the European Union and the shared values of multilateralism, diplomacy, and conflict resolution.