Editing Fine Gael (section)

===Pro-Europeanism and defence policies===
Fine Gael is among the most pro-[[European integration]] parties in Ireland, having supported the [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|European Constitution]],<ref name="neutrality">{{cite web |url=http://www.forumoneurope.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=1099 |title=Enda Kenny calls for Unified EU Approach to Immigration |website=National Forum on Europe |date=26 October 2006 |access-date=31 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118211933/http://www.forumoneurope.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=1099 |archive-date=18 November 2007}}</ref> the [[Lisbon Treaty]], and advocating participation in European common defence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forumoneurope.ie/index.asp?locID=210&docID=485 |title=Should we back a pledge to defend others if they come under attack? |website=National Forum on Europe |date=3 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119085655/http://www.forumoneurope.ie/index.asp?locID=210&docID=485 |archive-date=19 November 2007 }}. Retrieved on 31 October 2007</ref> The party have been supportive of [[NATO]]. In 1998, party leader John Bruton called on Ireland to join the NATO-led [[Partnership for Peace]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cullen |first=Paul |date=24 January 1998 |title=FG urges Ireland to join group led by NATO |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fg-urges-ireland-to-join-group-led-by-nato-1.127708 |access-date=2022-06-29 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> The party's youth wing, [[Young Fine Gael]], passed a motion in 2016 calling on the government to apply for membership of NATO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Securing Ireland in an Uncertain World |url=https://www.yfg.ie/app/uploads/2020/10/SECURING-IRELAND-IN-AN-UNCERTAIN-WORLD-FULLY-COMPLETED-DOC.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025142737/https://www.yfg.ie/app/uploads/2020/10/SECURING-IRELAND-IN-AN-UNCERTAIN-WORLD-FULLY-COMPLETED-DOC.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-25 |url-status=live |website=Young Fine Gael}}</ref>

Under Enda Kenny, the party called on the state to end [[Irish neutrality]] and to sign up for a European defence structure,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brennock |first=Mark |date=30 May 2003 |title=FG calls for State to abandon neutrality |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fg-calls-for-state-to-abandon-neutrality-1.360730 |access-date=2022-06-29 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> with Kenny claiming that "the truth is, Ireland is not neutral. We are merely unaligned."<ref name="neutrality" /> Following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Fine Gael called for an increase in defence spending,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staines |first=Michael |date=3 March 2022 |title=Fine Gael calls for increased military spending 'entirely disingenuous' |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/fine-gael-calls-for-increased-military-spending-entirely-disingenuous-1318091 |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Newstalk |language=en}}</ref> with [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] Simon Coveney proposing an increase of €500 million a year<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGreevy |first=Ronan |date=17 May 2022 |title=Simon Coveney: Ireland will not be joining Nato 'any time soon' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/simon-coveney-ireland-will-not-be-joining-nato-any-time-soon-1.4881180 |access-date=2022-06-29 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> and suggesting Ireland needed a "fundamental rethink" of its security approach.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Creamer |first=Nora |date=9 March 2022 |title=Ireland needs to have 'fundamental rethink' over security, says Coveney |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-rethink-security-coveney-5706137-Mar2022/ |access-date=29 June 2022 |work=The Journal}}</ref>

Since [[Brexit]], Fine Gael has taken a strong pro-European stance, stating that Ireland's place is "at the heart of Europe".<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=25 January 2018 |title=Varadkar: 'Ireland's place is at the heart of Europe |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/varadkar-ireland-s-place-is-at-the-heart-of-europe-1.3368701 |work=[[Irish Times]] |location= |access-date=20 September 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212403/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/varadkar-ireland-s-place-is-at-the-heart-of-europe-1.3368701 |url-status=live }}</ref> In government, the party has launched the "Global Ireland" plan to develop alliances with other small countries across Europe and the world.<ref name="globalireland">{{cite web|url=https://merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/20180612_Global_Ireland.pdf|title=Global Ireland|work=Merrion Street|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044823/https://merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/20180612_Global_Ireland.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>