Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the most recent Council of Minister's meeting of the European Union; the discussions held at that forum or at others on the further expansion of the EU, and such debates as may have been held with particular reference to the potential admission of Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4320/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Council on 22 January was particularly noteworthy for three reasons. It was (a) the first held since Irish became an official and working language of the Union, (b) the first in which an intervention was made in Irish and (c) the first since the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Union.

The Council considered the Commission's Annual Progress Report on the Lisbon Strategy. Ministers also discussed the EU's relations with Ukraine and adopted negotiating directives for an enhanced agreement between the EU and Ukraine. Following an exchange of views on a Commission Communication on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy, Ministers discussed the situation in Sudan/Darfur, Somalia and Iran and adopted conclusions. Ministers also discussed the external relations aspects of the Commission's proposed package on Energy and Climate Change.

Over lunch, Ministers discussed the outcome of the elections in Serbia and the Middle East Peace Process, as well as the situation regarding Bulgarian nurses who have been sentenced to death in Libya and the Death Penalty Moratorium. Under Any Other Business, Commissioner Peter Mandelson briefed Ministers on the negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council to establish an EU-GCC free trade area.

While enlargement was not discussed at the Council meeting in January, it had been discussed at the December Council. At the December meeting, Ministers welcomed the progress made by Bulgaria and Romania in their preparations for accession. The Council noted that cooperation would continue with Bulgaria and Romania as full Member States to verify progress in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime.

The Council also discussed the reports prepared by the European Commission on progress made by Croatia and Turkey in meeting the requirements for membership of the European Union. While welcoming the advances made to date by both countries, the Council noted that both Turkey and Croatia would both have to accelerate the pace of reforms in various areas.

In the case of Turkey, the Council said it was essential that Turkey undertakes determined efforts to intensify the reform process in the areas of freedom of expression, freedom of religion, women's rights, minority rights, trade union rights and civilian control of the military. In the case of Croatia, the Council identified the areas of judicial and administrative reform, the fight against corruption, property restitution and economic reform as requiring particular attention.

The Council of Ministers also noted the continuing failure of Turkey to implement the Ankara Protocol fully by opening its ports and airports to vessels registered in the Republic of Cyprus. As a consequence, the Council agreed to accept a recommendation from the European Commission to suspend negotiations on 8 of the 35 negotiating chapters relevant to Turkey's accession. Furthermore, the Council decided not to provisionally close any chapter until the Commission verifies that Turkey has implemented the Ankara Protocol. The European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2006 subsequently endorsed these conclusions.

The European Council also noted the candidate status of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and held an in-depth debate on future enlargement of the EU. The Council recalled the contribution of previous enlargements to peace, stability and prosperity across Europe, and the Union's commitment to partners already in the enlargement process was reaffirmed. The Council also agreed that the Union's future enlargement strategy would be based on the principles of consolidation, conditionality and communication. The pace of enlargement would also have to take into account the capacity of the Union to absorb new members. Furthermore, the Heads of State and Government stressed the importance of ensuring that the EU maintains and deepens its own development. It finally noted that, as the Union enlarges, successful European integration requires the EU institutions to function effectively and EU policies to be developed and financed in a sustainable manner.