Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me start with Deputy Byrne. Some of the points were touched on by Senator Mullins. There is no simple solution to the BiH situation. While I take on board the viewpoint that the EU has not done enough to support it, one could equally argue that BiH has not done enough to help itself down the path. Even among its community in Ireland, there is a sense of grievance about other countries moving on while BiH is not.

I am an enthusiastic supporter of EU enlargement. I believe firmly in its benefits for the EU as a whole and for the countries seeking to join. However, we must also see a willingness and desire to join. We can provide funding, expertise and other supports for the necessary reforms, but if national governments and structures do not possess the will to undertake these reforms, what can EU member states do? One can bring a horse to water, etc.

There is merit in the first viewpoint. I spent time in BiH last summer and met people of all backgrounds and political persuasions. There is a strand of thinking to the effect that, as the constitutional and governance arrangements are outdated, BiH now has an opportunity to revamp, move on and do something different internally to prepare it for the path towards European integration.

Perhaps that needs to happen first. I am unsure and I do not have all the answers. Certainly, we need to consider it in a new way. Perhaps the accession of Croatia and probably a new direction or new momentum for other countries in the region will present the opportunity to do it. It is not working as it should at the moment and we are all deeply concerned about that.

It is a magnificent country. It is geographically spectacular to drive through but it is also fascinating. We owe a great deal to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The whole of Europe and the entire Balkans region owe them a great deal. We need to consider it in a new light but I do not underestimate how difficult that will be. It has had a difficult recent political history that must be overcome, but these problems are being overcome in other places. We need only reflect on the breakthrough in Serbia and Kosovo in recent weeks, a historic solution to the issues that exist over northern Kosovo. I am a great optimist and if that can be achieved then I believe it must give hope for the rest of the region, especially for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

I agree with Deputy Byrne on the question of Syria and the idea of arming the opposition. In certain circumstances it could be a necessary step. I would never rule it out, but in the case of Syria there are so many unknowns and uncertainties about the opposition and about who we are dealing with. Of course we have recognised the opposition in Syria. I have spoken to some people in the United States Administration who are close to the decision-making on this issue. There is no doubt in my mind that it would fuel further bloodshed and further carnage in that country and we cannot support that.

I realise the EU position is frustrating. However, we have been discussing the western Balkans. Given everything we witnessed there 20 years ago, the idea of standing by and watching similar carnage on a grander scale in Syria and doing nothing is not an option. At the same time, fuelling even further carnage is a worse option. Therefore, we are presented with a dreadful situation and we must use all our political clout to bring the members of the UN Security Council who have refused to co-operate to the table and oblige them to co-operate. That will not be easy but I believe there is progress and that there is a chink of light, to use the words of Senator Clune. However, it is complex and certainly Mr. al-Assad is not in a place where he is willing to simply walk out the door. Whatever must take place to help him to make that decision should take place and we should be supportive of it. I do not believe that arming the opposition is the solution. I do not believe it would achieve anything positive.

The question of Macedonia and the treatment of minorities there was raised. Much progress has been made, there is no doubt about that. When I was there I met one of the Ministers responsible for minority rights. There has been demonstrable progress and that is to be welcomed. Macedonia is the country in the region that had made the most progress aside from Croatia, but it has been frustrated in recent years. Our national position has been to support Macedonia's path to EU integration. It is the right thing to do and it is right for the region. We must find a solution. Both sides must be willing to find a solution to the main issue. As far as I am concerned it can be temporary, medium-term or long-term. I have no preference, but we must show the people of Macedonia that their future is in Europe. We must honour our commitment of ten years ago, which will be marked by our conference on enlargement at the end of this month in Farmleigh Castle, Dublin; the EU must face up to its side of the bargain. I hope the difficulties can be overcome but it will be difficult and I share the frustration.

I agree with the point in respect of the Ukraine. Progress must be commended, recognised and rewarded but at same time we cannot turn a blind eye to the points raised by the European Convention on Human Rights, points which have been a matter of concern to the European Union for some time. There is absolute consistency in the ECHR findings vis-à-visthe conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council. Undoubtedly, progress has been made. I hope that we will see the association agreement signed in Vilnius in November but that is up to the Ukraine and we need to see action. I reiterate the call for the release of Yulia Tymoshenko. That would represent a significant and important step and it is something that would be welcomed by everyone in the EU. We will see.

There was a question about election monitoring in Albania and Mongolia. Mongolia joined the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during our chairmanship. The monitoring of elections will take place under the auspices of the parliamentary assembly and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

I chaired the EU-Albania summit which took place in Luxembourg two weeks ago. We had an extensive and wide-ranging assessment of progress in Albania with Commissioner Fuele and the European integration Minister, my counterpart. It was a good, constructive meeting. There will be election monitoring in Albania. There is a clear understanding by the Government there that there needs to be free and fair elections. It is an absolute prerequisite and it is essential from the point of view of the European Union. It is essential for the integration process and for the credibility of Albania. We have received assurances but we will watch and see. We will be following the election monitoring reports closely.

The question about refugees followed from the earlier discussion on Syria. I accept the point that many of those currently fleeing Syria will not be going back any time soon but we must aspire to the return of the refugees in due course. That must be the goal. People who have been driven out of their homes should be able to go back. That is an important priority. There are member states of the European Union which have offered and which are willing to receive refugees. Part of the difficulty is the economic crisis in Europe which makes it more difficult and makes countries and Governments more reluctant. However, there are member states - I am sure we will be one of them - for the medium-term relocating of refugees. The goal must be to see as many of them as possible return as quickly as possible.

Senator Mullins asked a question about whether due diligence has been carried out on Croatia. If he asked any of my Croatian counterparts, they would say due diligence has been done to within an inch of their lives. It has been a rigorous process. The professionalism of the Commission in terms of the reporting at every stage has been robust. Croatia will be a great addition to the European Union. It is a country that has great potential to grow, contribute economically and culturally and in every other way. I have no concerns about that and I believe Croatia will be a welcome addition. Senator Mullins referred to Bosnia as well and I have covered that.