Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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81. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which progress continues in respect of EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23613/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Enlargement is a priority for the Irish Presidency, and we are working to facilitate progress for all candidates and prospective candidates. Enlargement is a conditional process: prospective member states must themselves achieve progress on reforms in order to move forward on their EU paths. There have been a number of developments in enlargement policy during our Presidency. It is hoped this development may lead to Council decisions in June on the opening of accession negotiations with Serbia and the opening of negotiations of Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Kosovo. However, progress on the implementation of the Belgrade Pristina Dialogue Agreement will be important between now and June. The Commission also published its report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in April. It was relatively positive on reforms, good neighbourly relations and on efforts regarding the ‘name issue’ with Greece. However it also noted the negative effects of two months of political crisis following events on 24 December 2012, which resulted in the forcible removal of opposition MPs from Parliament. It remains to be seen whether enough progress has been achieved for the Council to agree to open accession negotiations. The Irish Presidency stands ready to facilitate this, should the Council so decide.

The final Commission monitoring report on Croatia, issued on 26 March, was positive. Ratifications of the Croatian Accession Treaty by Member States are on track, and we expect to see Croatia accede to the European Union as planned on 1 July. We are hopeful of being able to open a negotiation Chapter (Chapter 22 on Regional policy) with Turkey during our Presidency. However, this will depend on the efforts of Turkey and the EU Member States to facilitate progress.

Negotiations with Montenegro are at an early stage. A Chapter was opened last month and we may be able open another in June. We are also working to progress the important Rule of Law Chapters (23 and 24), which are central to the pace of Montenegro’s accession process.

Iceland is already well advanced in the accession negotiations. The previous Icelandic government took a decision to slow down the accession negotiations ahead of elections on 27 April. At present negotiations are underway to form a new coalition. Until they are concluded it is not known for certain what way the negotiations with Iceland will proceed.

For Albania, the Council stands ready to consider granting official candidate status when the Commission reports that necessary progress has been achieved. However progress has been limited in recent months in the run up to elections in June, and so we would not anticipate a Council decision on Albania during our Presidency.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is now lagging behind its neighbours on reforms, and this is an issue of real concern. The Bosnian government and political leaders must make real and sustained progress in order to realise the country’s EU perspective. What is required is clearly laid out in the December Council Conclusions, and in the June 2012 roadmap agreed by the Commission and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders.