Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the application for membership of the EU by Turkey. [13335/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The European Union has a long and close relationship with Turkey. Accession negotiations were opened in 2005, and are continuing. Ireland makes a constructive input to those negotiations.

As a beneficiary of a past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is generally supportive of enlargement. Enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote stability, security and prosperity in Europe. It is subject to rigorous conditionality and should take account of the capacity of the EU to integrate new members. Enlargement is a negotiated process and, as in any negotiation, the eventual outcome and timeframe cannot be predicted.

These factors shape Ireland's supportive approach to Turkey's candidacy. There are, in addition, potential gains to the single market and to trade through the accession of a country of Turkey's size. The Union's reach and influence in the Middle East and Central Asia could be enhanced through Turkish accession. With our partners we have subscribed to successive European Council conclusions which have highlighted the progress made by Turkey, drawn attention to the need to accelerate the pace of reforms, and called for Turkish compliance with obligations under the Ankara Protocol and on the Cyprus issue.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in our meeting here in Dublin of 10 March, outlined the progress Turkey has made on reforms in a number of areas as it has sought to bring Turkey more in line with the EU acquis. He explained how the accession negotiations provide a strong incentive for Turkey to pursue reforms, strengthen democracy and human rights and further modernise the country. Much has been achieved in Turkey in these areas, but the challenge is now for Turkey to maintain and accelerate the progress on reforms. In this meeting, I reiterated Ireland's support for the Turkish candidacy. At the same time, I noted the Council's deep regret at Turkey's continued non-compliance with its obligations under the Ankara Protocol and encouraged Turkey to make progress towards normalisation of its relations with the Republic of Cyprus.