Written answers

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

EU Enlargement

10:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which discussions are taking place in the matter of EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25477/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Negotiations on EU accession opened with Croatia and Turkey in October 2005. This launched a complex and lengthy negotiation process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed beforehand. An extensive analytical examination has been underway which involves close scrutiny of the compatibility of Turkish and Croatian legislation with that of the EU.

In all, there are thirty five negotiating chapters which deal with a range of policy areas. After each chapter has been examined, the EU decides, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, whether or not the negotiations in that sector should proceed.

At an Intergovernmental Accession Conference in Brussels on 12 October, two further chapters were opened with Croatia. This means that a total of fourteen chapters have been opened with Croatia.

The negotiations with Turkey have made somewhat less progress than those with Croatia. To date, four chapters have been opened with Turkey. Benchmarks have been agreed for thirteen other chapters. These benchmarks must be achieved before negotiations can begin in these particular areas.

The negotiations are complicated by the fact that Turkey has not fulfilled its obligations under the Ankara Protocol which requires it to open its ports and airports to vessels and aircraft from the Republic of Cyprus. On account of Turkey's failure to implement the Protocol, in December 2006 the Council of Ministers agreed that eight specific negotiating chapters cannot be opened, nor will any chapters be provisionally concluded until the Commission verifies that Turkey has fulfilled its commitments under the Ankara Protocol.

In addition to the above, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia became a candidate country in December 2005, but its accession negotiations have not yet commenced.

The European Commission is due to publish its annual report on Enlargement in November. This will include an assessment of the progress made by all Candidate and potential Candidate countries in meeting the requirements of EU membership. The Commission's report will inform the ongoing discussions on enlargement in the relevant EU fora.

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