Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the EU and the UN continues to monitor the situation in the Western Balkans with particular reference to the need to ensure continued stability and progress through democracy in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50463/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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On 10 October the European Commission published its annual Enlargement Strategy including Progress Reports on each of the countries of the Western Balkans. The substance of the reports will be discussed by the General Affairs Council and European Council in December. The decisions reached by the Council will shape the agenda on the EU’s enlargement policy during Ireland’s Presidency in the first half of 2013.

On the positive side, the Commission’s assessment noted that further progress had been achieved in the Western Balkans in the last year in particular with regard to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations. Nevertheless it recognised that issues stemming from past conflicts, together with other open bilateral issues remain key challenges to stability in the Western Balkans and need to be urgently addressed.

The EU has been active in seeking innovative approaches to dealing with difficult situations or blockages in the accession process. In the course of 2012 the Commission has launched a High Level Accession Dialogue with Macedonia; worked closely with the government and opposition in Albania to overcome political obstacles to further electoral and parliamentary reforms; launched a High Level Dialogue on the Accession Process with Bosnia and Herzegovina; and launched a Structured Dialogue on the Rule of Law with Kosovo. High Representative Ashton and the European External Action Service continue to facilitate a Dialogue between the governments of Belgrade and Pristina in an effort to improve relations between their two countries.

Despite positive progress in most of the region, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has stalled in recent months. The International High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, presented his six-monthly report to the UN Security Council on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords on 8 November. In it he noted that the political dynamic in Bosnia and Herzegovina during this reporting period had stagnated. The Commission similarly noted that there had been limited progress towards meeting the political criteria for EU accession. Campaigning for the local elections held on 7 October diverted political attention away from the pressing reforms needed. It is to be hoped that with the elections complete the government can give renewed attention to these outstanding issues.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, in conjunction with colleagues at EU and UN level, continues to identify and address areas of conflict, ethnic cleansing and or human rights abuses worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50464/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Addressing human rights concerns, including conflict, ethnic cleansing and or human rights abuses, remains central to our foreign policy. With its EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries, including post-conflict countries, throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. Where and when the situation warrants, we make known our concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question.

Ireland supports the use of the full UN human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses, including supporting the role of UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, Special Procedures and Mandate Holders and the convening, where appropriate, of Special Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. At the UN, the EU regularly makes statements on the human rights situations in a number of countries from all regions. Ireland is fully associated with these statements.

Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court, recognising it as an essential means of combating impunity for the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

The Government is committed to the promotion of full observance of universal human rights standards. Active participation in multilateral organisations including the EU, UN and the Council of Europe provides an opportunity for Ireland to voice its concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these organisations, international pressure can be brought to bear on those responsible for violation of human rights. Ireland will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering their protection.