Written answers

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

EU Enlargement

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which European Union enlargement continues to remain to the forefront with particular reference to specific candidate countries; if adequate process is being made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8590/14]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Enlargement remains very much to the forefront of EU policy. Progress is being made in bringing aspirant countries closer to EU membership, gradually aligning their national systems with the EU acquis communautaire.

In terms of the candidate countries, following an agreement reached under the Irish Presidency, a new chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations was formally opened last year, for the first time in three years. Accession negotiations are underway with Montenegro, with seven negotiating chapters now open, of which two have been provisionally closed.

Iceland is still officially a candidate for EU membership, although accession negotiations are currently on hold, following a decision of the Icelandic government last year.

In a major development, in January of this year, Serbia began accession negotiations with the EU.

Regarding Macedonia, the EU will revert in June of this year to the issue of whether to open accession negotiations with that candidate country.

The EU is looking forward to a decision regarding granting candidate status to Albania in June of this year, on the understanding that it continues to build on the encouraging progress made so far.

Kosovo is progressing on its path towards EU membership, with negotiations underway on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

Bosnia, on the other hand, is at a standstill on its path towards the EU, due to a failure of the leadership of that country to agree on important reform measures necessary for it to advance towards Union membership.

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