Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he has "no concerns" about the impact on Irish neutrality of EU-Nato co-operation as EU leaders backed "accelerated practical co-operation" between the two institutions at Tuesday's EU summit.
While the EU leaders' summit was dominated by the British referendum on EU membership, the EU's 28 member states discussed the issue of co-operation between the EU and Nato with UN secretary general Jens Stoltenberg ahead of Tuesday night's working dinner with British prime minister David Cameron.
In a joint communiqué they agreed to “accelerated and practical co-operation between EU and Nato in selected areas… in full respect of the decision-making autonomy and procedures of both organisations” and “without prejudice to the specific character of the defence policies of member states”.
Arriving in Brussels, Mr Kenny said he had no concerns about Irish neutrality. "It has been accepted for a very long time, the co-operation that exists between Europe and Nato and I will see to it that in the conclusions Ireland's neutrality is very well respected and understood."
Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy strongly criticised the summit's endorsement of closer ties between the EU and Nato, calling on Mr Kenny to "vociferously oppose this further drift towards militarisation in the EU".
"It is in blatant contradiction of the principle of Irish neutrality and the wishes of the Irish people who wish Ireland pursue a foreign policy based on peace making and human values," he said.
He criticised Fianna Fáil’s decision while in government to join Nato’s Partnership for Peace programme, which allows non-Nato countries to take part in certain Nato operations.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who was in Brussels for a pre-summit meeting of the European political group Alde, welcomed the fact that the summit's communiqué recognised the distinct defence policy of each EU member state, noting that the triple lock that was the ultimate guarantor in terms of preserving Ireland's military neutrality .
The triple lock means Irish troops will only serve on peace support missions if three conditions are met: a Government decision, Dáil approval and UN authorisation.
Irish officials in Brussels have been leading behind-the-scenes efforts to ensure there is no change to the existing relations between the two Brussels-based institutions. Ireland is one of six EU member states which are not members of Nato, the transatlantic defence alliance established in 1949.
Increasing tensions with Russia on the EU's eastern flank has reinvigorated the institution in recent years, with a number of eastern European states, together with France, Germany and Britain, keen to ensure co-operation between the EU and Nato. The issue is likely to resurface at next week's Nato summit in Warsaw where a special communiqué on EU-Nato co-operation will be signed.
A new global security strategy for the EU was also presented by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. The publication of the document had been expected to be postponed due to the British referendum result but was instead sent to EU capitals at the weekend.
Britain's departure from the EU is likely to have a significant impact on EU foreign policy. Along with France it was the only EU country on the UN Security Council and a significant military power.
Mr Cameron is expected to attend the Nato summit in Warsaw on July 9th and 10th.
