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

The Taoiseach's recent to the western Balkans, and specifically Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, was welcome. He also visited the Irish peacekeeping troops posted in Kosovo. Ireland has a proud tradition of UN peacekeeping. No doubt, the Taoiseach conveyed the deep appreciation of all of us to the Defence Forces personnel station stationed there for the important duties that they are undertaking.

As the Taoiseach knows, a number of countries in the western Balkans have aspirations to join the EU. The declaration issued last December, following the EU-western Balkans summit, acknowledged these aspirations and outlined the future steps to be taken in this regard. Ireland favours enlargement in principle.

We see it as beneficial to the individual countries and to the EU as a whole. It is clear that some of these countries are doing better than others with regard to meeting the necessary criteria, which are the so-called Copenhagen criteria. What is the view at European Council level concerning the western Balkans and enlargement? Does the Taoiseach think progress on this matter has stalled? We are told there is a rise of the far right across Europe and perhaps a pushback on enlargement. Does the Taoiseach think we should wait to admit all the countries collectively or should they be admitted on a case-by-case basis? I think the Taoiseach said in his response that they can be admitted on a case-by-case basis. Would he think that is the view across the EU at European Council level?

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