Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current and future international commitment to the western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42341/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans, which were recognised as having a perspective towards EU membership by the European Council at Thessaloniki in 2003. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for co-operation on economic, political and legal matters and aims to bring countries closer to EU standards and principles. Progress Reports on each of the countries of the Western Balkans were issued by the European Commission on 14 October 2009. It is expected that the reports will be discussed at the December GAERC.

On 15 November, the first democratic elections organised by the Government of Kosovo were held. I am pleased to note that initial reports suggest that they were organised in a professional manner and took place peacefully. The international community's commitment to assisting political progress in Bosnia-Herzegovina was underlined by the joint EU / US initiative, the "Butmir process". Two rounds of meetings were held last month with the leaders of the three main communities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The EU and US made a series of proposals designed to improve the functioning of the political system there.

The Dayton Peace Agreement had established the Office of the High Representative. The High Representative is responsible for monitoring implementation of the Agreement and coordinating the activities of international organisations operating in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He is advised by the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC). The PIC comprises 55 countries, including Ireland and all other EU Member States, as well as international organisations. In February 2008, the PIC agreed on five objectives and two conditions to be met before the Office of the High Representative could be replaced by a European Union Special Representative.

The Butmir initiative placed a particular focus on resolving the major impediments to this transition which include the need for agreement on the division of state and defence property as well as constitutional issues. While the parties were not in a position to accept the necessary compromises during the Butmir talks, the Presidency saw grounds for cautious optimism and EU/US expert teams are following up. The Commission has said recently that, due to lack of progress in a number of key areas, there was concern that, while its neighbours progress towards their European perspective, Bosnia-Herzegovina could get left behind.

I welcome the signature by Slovenia and Croatia in Stockholm on 4 November 2009 of an arbitration agreement to resolve their maritime and land border dispute. I am pleased to see the resumption of negotiations on the remaining chapters of Croatia's accession negotiations. These had been blocked, pending resolution of this dispute. Ireland together with our EU partners remains committed to influencing positively the situation in the Western Balkans. We will do everything possible to ensure lasting stability in the countries of the region.