Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the accession of Serbia to the European Union in view of Serbia's failure to recognise the full independence of Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18808/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia recognized the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign independent State as part of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded on December 14, 1995. As a successor state to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia continues to recognise the full independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the EU-Western Balkans Summit at Thessaloniki in 2003, European Union leaders reiterated the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans, and reaffirmed that the future of these countries lies within the EU, once they have fulfilled all of the requirements necessary for membership. The Thessaloniki Summit also confirmed the Stabilisation and Association process as the framework for further integration of the countries of the Western Balkans, preparatory in each case to a future accession process.

In October 2005, the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) authorised the Commission to open negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia. These negotiations were subsequently suspended between 3 May 2006 and 13 June 2007 due to Serbia's failure to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY). At the GAERC meeting of 18 June last, EU Foreign Ministers welcomed a renewed commitment on the part of Serbia to cooperate with ICTY — as evidenced by the arrest of two ICTY indictees — and endorsed the Commission's decision to reopen SAA negotiations. The pace and conclusion of these negotiations will depend in particular on Serbia's progress in developing the necessary legislative framework and administrative capacity to implement its obligations under the Agreement, and on full co-operation with ICTY.