Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14082/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Enlargement continues to be an important aspect of the Union's external relations, which plays a role in promoting democracy, stability and prosperity in prospective candidate countries. There are currently three candidate countries negotiating accession to the EU: Croatia, Turkey and Iceland. There are two further countries which are officially candidates but have yet to open negotiations: Macedonia and Montenegro.

Accession negotiations with Croatia are nearing completion. Croatia's accession process was discussed at the General Affairs Council on 23 May, attended by Minister of State Creighton. The discussion was informal and focussed on the remaining negotiation Chapters that have to be concluded. Croatia has made substantial progress in the last twelve months. While there are some outstanding issues still to be resolved, particularly in the area of Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, I would expect negotiations to be concluded in the coming months with a draft Treaty ready for signature possibly before the end of the year. The European Council in June is expected to consider Croatia's accession process.

Progress in the case of Turkey remains slow. A complicating factor has been parliamentary elections, due to take place this month, which necessitated the resignation of prospective candidates from their government positions in advance of the poll. I am hopeful that once the elections are concluded we will see a renewed effort by the Turkish government to fulfil benchmarks that would allow for the opening of further negotiation chapters. However, until Turkey fulfils its obligations regarding the Ankara Protocol and makes progress towards normalising its bilateral relations with Cyprus, the eight negotiation Chapters suspended in 2006 will remain so.

Accession negotiations with Iceland were opened last July and actual negotiations will begin following the Commission Screening Reports on each chapter, which report on areas of difference between Icelandic and EU law. It is expected that up to five negotiation chapters will be opened at the Intergovernmental Conference with Iceland on 27 June. The overall level of Iceland's preparedness to meet EU legislative requirements is good, with Iceland being already part of the European Economic Area and Schengen, and prompt progress in negotiations is expected in many areas.

The opening of negotiations with Macedonia remains blocked by Greece due to the name issue. There can be no progress until a solution is found and diplomatic efforts continue to try to resolve the impasse. Montenegro, granted candidate status last December, has still to comply with some outstanding issues identified by the Commission before negotiations can be opened. The Commission will report on progress in this regard in autumn this year.

Question No. 45 answered with Question No. 20.