Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland supports the application for membership of the EU by Croatia, Iceland and Macedonia; the progress being made with regard to their membership; the timeframe for completion of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39787/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a beneficiary of past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is broadly supportive of enlargement. The prospect of enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote stability, security and prosperity in Europe. Ireland takes an active role in discussions on the issue, both at Council meetings and in bilateral discussions with existing and aspirant member states. It is important to note that enlargement is a negotiated process and, as in any negotiation, the eventual outcome and timeframe cannot be predetermined.

The Council plans to discuss enlargement again in detail at the European Council in December. Prior to this, the European Commission is due to publish their annual progress reports on candidate countries in November. These reports will provide a basis for further discussion and conclusions at the December Council.

Negotiations with Croatia are well advanced and work on most chapters will be completed by the end of the year. Currently, 22 of the 35 negotiating chapters have been closed and the work of the Accession Treaty Drafting Group is well underway. A further 2-3 Chapters are expected to be closed at an Intergovernmental Conference for this purpose in November. Issues that still require effort concern measures to combat corruption and organised crime, and cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The findings and recommendations of the Commission's 2010 annual Progress Report due to issue on 09 November will be very relevant.

An intergovernmental conference with Iceland on 27 July marked the formal opening of negotiations and the negotiations are proceeding. The first step in this process is for the Commission to undertake a formal process of examination of the acquis with the Icelandic authorities, called screening. This allows it to be fully explained to Iceland, and to narrow down specific areas that will require substantial negotiation. Once the Commission gives its Screening Report to Council, negotiations begin across each chapter. This is expected to begin in early next year. Issues of contention are expected to be fisheries, agriculture, financial services and environment.

In October 2009, the Commission recommended formally opening accession negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia. The December Council welcomed progress made in a number of important areas but stopped short of endorsing the Commission's recommendation to open negotiations. The key obstacle is a bilateral dispute with Greece regarding the use of the name "Macedonia." No breakthrough was reached at the June General Affairs Council and major progress is not expected over the next six months.