Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. Laják for his comprehensive report on the situation in the western Balkans. I also reiterate that Ireland, as a matter of principle, favours enlargement. We believe it is good for the member states, for the European Union, and for the applicant states.

I take on board the point made strongly by Mr. Laják that it cannot just be about the Copenhagen criteria or a box-ticking exercise. We need to consider the values of the European Union and the geopolitical situation. I also take the point that the mood has changed since the awful invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It seems to me that there is movement towards considering the geopolitical considerations, and giving them more weight. President Macron seems to be heading in that direction too, so there is some hope that we can overcome these problems for the applicant countries in the western Balkans.

Mr. Laják mentioned the possibility of countries joining in stages, or something along those lines, and getting financial assistance by degrees. What is his view of the newly established European Political Community, which is again the brainchild of President Macron? Does Mr. Laják think it is a good thing, or is it just delaying the applicant countries from joining? Where does he think the resistance is coming from? Is there a fear among some member states that the European Union is moving more to the east, and therefore other states lose out? Is that a genuine fear? I would be interested to hear his views on that. Is it just a matter of concerns about functionality, and that enlargement will create problems in that area? My third question is about how Russian influence, and its attempts to destabilise these countries, are manifesting themselves on the ground? Can we have some detail on that? How significant is it, and how worried should the European Union and the applicant countries be about that?