Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has being made during Ireland's EU presidency in relation to Macedonia's progress to EU membership. [22832/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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We were pleased that the December 2012 European Council Conclusions left scope for progress on EU enlargement during the Irish Presidency. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been an official candidate for EU accession since 2005. With a view to a possible decision on opening accession negotiations, the December Council invited the Commission to report on progress in three areas: (i) EU-related reforms in the context of the High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD); (ii) steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations, and (iii) steps taken to resolve the 'name issue' with Greece, under the auspices of the UN.

The Commission’s report was published on 16 April and was relatively positive, noting progress in almost all areas of the HLAD. It concluded that steps have been taken on bilateral relations, and that efforts to resolve the ‘name issue’ have taken on new momentum.

However the report also noted the negative effects of two months of political crisis that followed events on 24 December 2012, when adoption of the 2013 annual budget under controversial circumstances resulted in the forcible removal of opposition MPs and journalists from Parliament. The Commission's report emphasised the importance of the timely implementation of the political agreement of 1 March 2013 which ended the crisis.

Ireland has supported the Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations. However, decisions on enlargement are made by unanimity, requiring the agreement of all 27 Member States. Ireland, as EU Presidency, will facilitate discussion of the report at the General Affairs Council in June and will seek to have the issue progressed. Prior to that I expect to have talks with the Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Integration.