James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I recall that in 2004 when Ireland held the EU Presidency, by chance I happened to be in Dublin Airport and saw the flags of the accession states as the EU enlarged massively along its eastern border. That was very positive - former Soviet bloc countries embracing democracy and the economic success of the EU. Enlargement generally has been positive. It is spreading the wings of the EU further afield. However, we have to treat carefully with the western Balkans. It is not a homogenous bloc. It has its own issues. I am particularly concerned about the attitude of Serbia and its approach to Russia, with which it has ongoing connections, its reluctance to condemn or sanction Russia and its implicit approval, it seems, of Russia's actions. As is also evidenced by its attitude to Kosovo and the territorial claims it advances, Serbia appears to have the Russian attitude of territorial domination and of a wider state or empire under its remit. This is problematic. Enlargement cannot be a one-way street. We have to ensure that accession states have the values of liberal democracy, free and fair elections, respect for territorial integrity, and judicial independence. These are values that our own party enshrined in our own constitution recently under the aims and objectives. They are fundamental to European democracy and liberal democracy. We need to tread carefully. We do not want fifth columnists coming into the ranks.

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