Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have done my best and anything I have not yet answered I will answer at another time. However, I must conclude with some core themes mentioned at the European Council and to which the Taoiseach referred with regard to points on which colleagues have touched thus far. I wish to conclude with the point on enlargement. I acknowledge that the European Council agreed to open up negotiations with Serbia on accession and to support the work of the Government and people of Serbia under way. This is to deal with making progress on their relationship with the European Union and using this as a framework to tackle many of the pressing difficulties and challenges within that country and region. I acknowledge that within the European Council the decision was made to revisit the question of whether Albania would receive candidate status in June 2014, while acknowledging the huge progress it had made to date. I had the opportunity to visit Albania a number of weeks ago and reinforced this point to its Government and members of civil society. I also acknowledge the decisions made on assessing the negotiations and discussions with Macedonia, as well as the work taking place within the western Balkans and on countries such as Kosovo.

I have done my best within the time available to respond to the points Deputies have put to me and provide a brief summary of additional areas of agreement at the European Council. I look forward at any other point, either in committee or this Chamber, to answering those questions I have been unable to answer within the time available.

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