Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the EU accession talks with Croatia will recommence before the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13502/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Croatia applied for membership of the European Union in 2003 and the Commission presented its formal opinion on the application in April 2004. The June 2004 European Council agreed that Croatia fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria and the specific conditions established for the countries of the western Balkans. It decided that Croatia is a candidate country for membership and that accession negotiations should open early in 2005. This decision was confirmed by the December 2004 European Council, which decided that negotiations should open on 17 March 2005, provided there was full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

When the General Affairs Council met in Brussels on 16 March, it was clear that it would not be possible to achieve the unanimous decision of member states, which is required for the opening of accession negotiations. The Councilreaffirmed the commitment of the EU to Croatia's membership and it adopted the necessary negotiating framework. However, in the absence of unanimity on the extent of Croatia's co-operation with the tribunal, the Council had to postpone the meeting of the bilateral Intergovernmental Conference to begin accession negotiations until it establishes that Croatia is co-operating fully with the tribunal.

The tribunal has identified just one remaining case which Croatia needs to resolve — that of the indicted former general, Ante Gotovina, who remains at large, in hiding. The European Council, in Brussels on 23 March, agreed to establish a team to work with the tribunal and with Croatia and to report back to the Council. The team is composed of the current and future Presidencies — Luxembourg, UK and Austria — together with High Representative Solana and the Commission. It held its first meetings with the chief prosecutor of the tribunal and with the Foreign Minister of Croatia in Luxembourg on Tuesday this week, 26 April.

The Government remains strongly committed to Croatia's future membership of the European Union. We were very pleased that it proved possible to achieve a strong, unanimous decision by the European Council on Croatia's candidate status during Ireland's EU Presidency. We agree on the importance of full co-operation with the tribunal by all the countries of the western Balkans and that it is an essential requirement for the development of closer relations with the EU. Over the past 18 months, Croatia has made significant progress in its co-operation with the tribunal and I hope that the last remaining issue can be resolved as quickly as possible.

The Government welcomes the agreement reached at the March European Council to establish the team to work with the tribunal and with Croatia. The future work of the team will clearly depend on developments in relations between the tribunal and Croatia. However, it is essential that the Council retains the initiative on this sensitive issue and remains ready to take a positive decision on the opening of accession negotiations with Croatia at the earliest opportunity.