Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will commit that Ireland's position in relation to Serbia's accession to the EU will be based on Serbia normalising relations with Kosovo and this being seen in action on the ground, also dependent on the implementation of the facilitation dialogue on technical issues; his views on the situation regarding the barricades in the north of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39559/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland and its EU partners are committed to enhancing stability in the Western Balkans. The EU perspective for the countries in the region, as agreed at the June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council, is essential in helping to build and maintain this stability. The EU will remain engaged in assisting the countries in the region to undertake the reforms necessary to move forward in their path to the EU. At the European Council meeting of 9 December last, Heads of State and Government of the European Union noted the considerable progress Serbia has made towards fulfilling the political criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council and the Stabilisation and Association Process requirements and the fact that a fully satisfactory level in its co-operation with ICTY has been reached. The European Council welcomed that Serbia has re-engaged in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and that it is moving forward with implementation of agreements in good faith. It also welcomed the Agreement on Integrated Border Management.

With a view to granting Serbia the status of candidate country, the European Council tasked the Council of Ministers to examine and confirm that Serbia has continued to show credible commitment and has achieved further progress in moving forward with the implementation in good faith of agreements reached in the dialogue, including on Integrated Border Management; that it has reached an agreement on inclusive regional co-operation and that it has actively cooperated to enable EULEX (European Union Rule of Law Mission) and KFOR (Kosovo Force) to execute their mandates. In the light of its examination, the Council of Ministers will take a decision in February 2012 on granting Serbia candidate status, to be confirmed by the March European Council. With regard to difficulties on the border between Kosovo and Serbia, it is essential that the Government in Belgrade does everything possible to persuade the ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo to desist from provocative acts.