The Amsterdam Treaty poses no threat to Irish neutrality but will enhance the EU's ability to respond to new security challenges, according to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
Speaking at a conference on Small States and European Security at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin last night, Ms O'Donnell maintained that smaller European states could now envisage co-operation with the larger states without the fear of being dominated by them.
"The contrast between the great powers and the small states that they overshadowed is greatly reduced," she said. Globalisation meant that each state, almost without exception, had a limited capacity by itself to shape and influence its external environment.
"The former great European powers have neither the motivation nor the capacity to act on their own. For the post-Cold War generation, for the first time, the concept of indivisibility in security in Europe has acquired real meaning. In this sense, for the first time we can speak of European security."
She said that Ireland, in common with other like-minded states, had a number of fundamental priorities, including a commitment to the rule of law, the protection of human rights, the elimination of the causes of conflict, the peaceful resolution of disputes and the conduct of orderly and peaceful international relations.
While the United Nations remained the cornerstone of international peace and security, it was increasingly reliant on regional organisations to help it meet the challenge of the post-Cold War world. NATO, the Western European Union and the Council of Europe had declared themselves willing to respond to requests from the UN or OSCE, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to assist in dealing with actual or potential conflict situations.
"I welcome this move towards a common sense of purpose among Euro-Atlantic security organisations."
She said the enlargement of the EU would be the key to the consolidation of security in Europe.