Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are aware that the European Political Community platform is an initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. The idea was to bring all European states together, and not just those in the European Union. It has been a useful forum for networking, as we just heard from the Taoiseach, but it does put the focus on the proposed enlargement of the European Union. Consideration is now being given to expanding the EU from 27 to 35 member states or more: I think of the western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in this regard. That will be a challenge. Ireland of course supports enlargement as a general principle. Membership of the EU for the past 50 years has been transformative for us. The current geopolitical situation also needs to be taken into account. A number of issues need to be examined if enlargement is to be facilitated, such as the EU decision-making capacity or the future of the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, as well as CAP reform. What is Ireland's approach to this discussion? Is work being undertaken by the Government as to the implications of enlargement for Ireland? Does the Taoiseach believe that the existing treaty should be utilised fully first to accommodate enlargement rather than to go down the road of treaty change?

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