European security and defence arrangements were brought fully into the limelight yesterday by two events: the summit meeting on NATO enlargement in Helsinki between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin and the publication of proposals for much greater coordination within the European Union by France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg. Both dimensions have major implications for Ireland" and deserve much more attention from the political, class than they seem likely to receive going into an election.
The decision to disagree on NATO enlargement in Helsinki is significant as much for the progress, made as for the consensus yet to come. Negotiations are to continue on an agreement between NATO and, Russia, underpinned by detailed commitments about the scope and pace of the western alliance's enlargement. Bilateral deals between the US and Russia on trade and investment and, most notably, on the effective admission of Russia to the Group of Seven industrialised countries ( making it the Group of Eight ) bespeak an effort on a grand scale to head off new lines of geopolitical confrontation in Europe.
How successful these are, will not become apparent for several months, in the approach to the NATO summit next July in Madrid. All told, the tone and, content of what was agreed yesterday in Helsinki, represent significant work in progress towards a better understanding of European security despite the continuing reservations many still have about the pace and desirability of NATO enlargement. Mr Yeltsin has certainly impressed with his conduct of affairs and the fresh stamp of authority visible in recent weeks and clearly on display in Helsinki. He is positioning Russia to take maximum advantage from the western perception that Russia must not be marginalised in the new, security regime under construction. The commitments to continue negotiations on nuclear and conventional force reduction are especially welcome.
Within the European Union, the security and defence debate has been given a strong push forward by yesterday's publication of proposals for closer integration of the Western European Union with the EU and by new proposals from the Dutch presidency for, greater cooperation on foreign policy. These should spark renewed interest and public debate in the InterGovernmental Conference (IGC), which it is hoped to conclude at Amsterdam in mid June. So far, the IGC has failed to ignite sufficient public interest, despite the best efforts of the negotiators to communicate their deliberations. Much more attention needs to be devoted to making the new constitutional structures more accessible and relevant to public opinion and therefore more democratically legitimate. A sharp argument over security and foreign policy will at least help to galvanise interest in coming months.
Ireland cannot afford to let this debate pass by ash if this State was immune from security and defence, concerns because of military neutrality. The transformation of European security after the end of the Cold War is only now being put to the test, making yesterday's news an important herald of events to come. It deserves much greater attention from political parties and public opinion than it has yet received, if fundamental Irish interests are to be expressed and defended in coming months.