Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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502. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the various countries in the western Balkans continue to meet the acquis communautaire; the extent to which various objectives continue to be reached in respect of European Union membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45682/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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There are currently five countries which have Candidate Status, including four in the Western Balkans – Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Albania. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

Ireland has long been a supporter of Enlargement. The European Commission continues to work actively to support prospective member states in implementing reforms in order to make progress on their respective EU paths, and the 2015 ‘Enlargement Package’ was published on 10 November. The ‘Package’ includes an overarching strategy, and progress reports on individual countries. The Enlargement process was discussed at the General Affairs Council on 15 December, when Ministers had an opportunity to discuss the progress of individual candidate and potential candidate countries in meeting the acquis communautaire, and comprehensive conclusions were adopted.

In general, there has been steady progress in the accession process for states in the Western Balkans, with the first two accession chapters being opened in relation to Serbia and eight more chapters being opened in relation to Montenegro. The coming into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina in June, and the signing of the SAA with Kosovo in October were additional encouraging signs.

Progress in relation to the Republic of Macedonia and Albania has been more limited. While progress continues to be made, difficulties in the rule of law, restrictions on freedom of expression and corruption remain prevalent throughout the region.