Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if progress has been made with regard to Croatian entry talks to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18600/05]

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 cooperation 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 that is required for the opening of accession negotiations. The Council reaffirmed 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 postponed the meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental conference to begin accession negotiations until it establishes that Croatia is cooperating fully with the tribunal.

The tribunal has identified a single remaining case which Croatia needs to resolve, that of the indicted former general Ante Gotovina, who remains 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 of 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 the foreign minister of Croatia, in Luxembourg on 26 April. On the basis of developments, the forthcoming European Council on 16-17 June will consider whether sufficient progress has been made for a decision to open the accession negotiations with Croatia. I look forward to a detailed preparatory discussion at the General Affairs Council on 13 June.

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 very significant progress in its cooperation with the tribunal, and I hope that the last remaining issue can be resolved as quickly as possible. I believe it is important that the Council remains ready to take a positive decision on the opening of accession negotiations with Croatia, at the earliest opportunity.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made by Turkey towards the achievement of the Copenhagen criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18597/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the European Union since the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, which agreed that it was destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria applied to the other candidate states. The European Council in Brussels on 16-17 December 2004 decided, on the basis of the Commission's report and recommendation, that Turkey sufficiently fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria to enable the opening of accession negotiations. It requested the Commission to begin work on a proposal for a negotiating framework and to present it to the Council, with a view to the opening of accession negotiations on 3 October 2005. The pace of the negotiations will depend in large part on progress in the implementation of Turkey's wide-ranging reform programme.

Turkey has made very significant progress in recent years in legislating for reform. Important human rights reforms have been introduced, including legislation to protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and the rights of women. In taking the decision to open accession negotiations, the December European Council emphasised the importance of sustaining the reform process and it underlined the need for early progress on six specific items of legislation identified by the Commission. I welcome the entry into force of five of these legislative reforms, on schedule, by 1 April 2005. The sixth, the comprehensive reform of the Turkish penal code, was approved by the Turkish Parliament on 27 May.

The December European Council expressed confidence that Turkey will continue to address areas in which reforms are needed. These include points of continuing concern which have been clearly identified by the Commission, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, women's rights, and the zero tolerance policy in the fight against torture. The Commission will continue to monitor the reform process closely. It is essential that it is seen to be irreversible and that reform legislation is fully implemented throughout the country and at all levels of the administration. In the period ahead, member states will consider proposals from the Commission for a revised accession partnership with Turkey, setting out priorities for the continued implementation of the reform process. The Council will also consider proposals from the Commission for a detailed framework for the accession negotiations.

Turkey is also committed to signing the protocol adapting the 1963 Ankara agreement of association in order to take account of the accession of ten new member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, and to do so before the actual start of accession negotiations. I welcome the recent agreement by Turkey to the text of the protocol submitted by the Commission. The early signature of the protocol, its ratification and its subsequent implementation would constitute important steps forward towards normalisation of relations between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus.

The Government will continue to work with our partners in the Union, and with Turkey, to ensure that all the elements are in place for the successful opening of accession negotiations on 3 October.