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

I appreciate that it is a delicate balance and that there is a degree of carrot and stick involved. Much as we want to reach out and reward those democratic initiatives that are in play in Serbia, elections which were questionable were contested before Christmas. Looking beyond the Balkans, places like Belarus have democratic oppositions that are in exile. Moldova is less problematic democratically but is economically turbulent. It often piggy-backs on Romania in order to get access to the EU. There is a massive benefit in encouraging economic growth and democratic activity in those states. We need to encourage the good actors in those accession territories by reaching out the hand of friendship and saying, "Join the club." However, we must do so in a way that does not reward or allow access to others. We have seen how problematic Hungary has been in terms of undermining EU values and giving others a foot in the door.

I appreciate that it is a difficult balance throughout. We need to continue rewarding the positive factions within those states while at the same time not allowing free access to our democratic Union for others that may have more malign intentions.

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