Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

EU Membership

8:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the Balkan States are in communication with the EU in the context of future membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31222/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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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 affirmed that the future of these countries lies within the EU, once they have fulfilled all of the requirements necessary for membership.

Croatia is engaged in accession negotiations with the EU. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has obtained candidate status, although its negotiations on accession have not yet commenced. The EU is in the course of completing Stabilisation and Association Agreements with other countries in the region.

On 6 November last, the European Commission published its annual package of enlargement reports. These include an assessment of progress made by candidate countries, including Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in meeting EU membership criteria. They also assess progress made by countries elsewhere in the Western Balkans towards realisation of their European perspective

The Commission reports that accession negotiations with Croatia are advancing well. Areas where further progress is still needed include judicial and administrative reform, minority rights, and refugee return.

With regard to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Commission reports on some progress in reforms and considers that the pace of reforms needs to be accelerated in key areas.

While noting progress in many areas, the Commission considers that the region as a whole needs to move forward in building modern democracies and developing a political culture of dialogue and tolerance. The Commission reports that Albania and Montenegro, which have signed Stabilisation and Association Agreements with the EU, have made progress in a number of areas but still face major challenges. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to move ahead with reforms, in particular in governance and police reform. The Commission acknowledges that Serbia has the administrative capacity to make substantial progress towards realising its European perspective. However, there will need to be full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) before the Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiated with the EU in recent months can be signed.

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