Ireland will collaborate with other EU states on security amid concern over Russia

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it made sense for Ireland to work with EU states that have expertise in drones, protection of undersea cables, and cyberattacks

Disruption caused by drones at Danish airports are among the recent incidents European leaders discussed in Copenhagen on Wednesday. Picture: Steven Knap/Ritzau Scanpix/AP

Ireland will collaborate with other EU states with expertise on drones, protection of undersea cables, and cyberattacks amid ongoing concern about Russian volatility.

European leaders gathered in Copenhagen on Wednesday for an informal European Council summit focused on defence across the bloc and support for Ukraine.

The discussions regarding defence centred on how to deliver on the EU’s 2030 defence readiness target. This included guidance on the Commission’s defence road map and how to meet the 2030 target, including taking steps towards launching concrete critical capability projects.

Ahead of the meeting, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that while Ireland is unlikely to borrow money under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, it has started the process of procuring items such as radar.

Amid ongoing fears of drone incursions across EU countries — including Denmark where the meetings were being held — Mr Martin said that Ireland will rely on the expertise of other countries to examine the risks.

I think it makes a lot of sense that we would work with other member states who may have particular expertise to develop stronger technological capability in respect of drones, for example, in respect of protecting subsea cables, cybersecurity as well. 

“These are the modern threats, and we have witnessed reckless manifestations on behalf of Russia in respect of drone violation of airspace of member states in terms of cybersecurity [and] attacks on certain aspects of member states’ activities and utilities.

“These are all, unfortunately, necessary responses that we need to take.”

The defence session also discussed the idea of a European “drone wall”.

Discussions on defence took up most of the meeting, with discussions on Ukraine only starting in the late afternoon. 

At one stage, there were discussions of the leaders returning to the venue to continue their meetings at 9.30pm following a dinner at the Danish royal residence. 

However, the meeting ultimately finished at 6.30pm.

'Reparations loans'

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed “reparations loans” for Ukraine that would see the country receive loans secured against “mobilised Russian assets”. The EU had previously argued that frozen Russian assets should not be touched.

Ukraine will only have to pay back the loans if Russia pays reparations for the damage it has caused since the outbreak of the war. Ms von der Leyen said: 

We are not confiscating the assets, but we are taking the cash balances for loans to Ukraine. 

The Taoiseach stated that Ireland is supportive of further sanctions on Russia and reparations loans.

“I think the principle of where a state like Russia causes immense destruction and damage to a state like Ukraine, that it should be paying reparations ultimately,” he said. “The idea that authoritarian states can wage war and expect others to have to reconstruct afterwards is a principle, I think, needs to be shed.

“Alternative approaches need to be developed. So, to provide deterrence for the future and so we can protect people’s territorial integrity and sovereignty into the future.”

The meeting of European leaders will continue this week as the European Political Community meets in Copenhagen. 

This involves the leaders of the EU member states and nearly two dozen other countries, including the UK and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the meeting.