Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We welcome the ambassador and his contribution, which was progressive and important. We agree entirely that the western Balkans is important to Europe economically and from the point of view of stability and peace. The European Union represents the largest peace agreement which has been reached in approximately 500 years and it has worked very well, with the exception of the western Balkans where we had a difficulty a number of years ago. It took quite a long time before the influence of the USA, the EU and other bodies was brought to bear in a huge effort to bring about peace in the region. It is an uneasy peace in many ways.

Most members have been to the region on more than one occasion. I think I have been to all of the western Balkan states, in fact. It is timely for the western Balkan states to reaffirm their intentions. The ambassador is quite right about that. There is no use being a candidate for membership of the EU unless there is realistic progress. The ambassador is right that membership may cease to be an objective if other objectives are being considered. The easiest ones are not always the best ones. It is better to conform to the standards laid down by the European Union and what that entails. I acknowledge that we are going through a difficult time in our relations within the European Union. With Brexit, a member state is leaving, which is a sad thing and something which could have a lasting negative impact on the Union unless it is handled well. So far, the negotiations have been handled well by Mr. Barnier and his colleagues because there is a recognition that if one country benefits at the expense of the Union by leaving, everyone will scatter within a short space of time. There is no rationale as to what the next best thing to do is.

I welcome the ambassador warmly and I hope he has a fruitful time here as he meets the various bodies he proposes to see. Most important, and as was said at a recent meeting here, I note that the western Balkans has tended to be part of a pressure zone between two continents. It still is. Its importance remains the same as it was 100 years ago and more. It is even more important now, in fact. We welcome what the ambassador has said. The European Union is similarly positive. While one gets the odd person who says the European Union developed too quickly, that is not true. There were very few options. There are times when options are limited but decisions must be taken as to what is the best thing in such contexts and in a particular window of opportunity. The opportunity may otherwise be lost. We hope the opportunities which have been there for some time will remain and that the EU and the western Balkans – each country in its turn – can respond positively and quickly to meet the criteria laid down in the acquis communautairein particular. Not all existing member states comply with that at all times, but we think positively.