Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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362. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the western Balkans continue to observe the acquis communautaire in line with movement towards European Union membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19769/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, 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 to assist in implementing the recommendations of the most recent ‘Enlargement Package’ published on 10 November 2015, and agreed at the General Affairs Council in December.

In general, there has been steady progress in the accession process for states in the Western Balkans: the first two accession chapters have been opened in relation to Serbia and twenty-four chapters are now open in relation to Montenegro – the most recent of these, on Fisheries and Food Safety, opened on 30 June.

Ireland welcomes the application for membership which Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted in February and also the coming into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo on 1 April.

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. The turbulent political situation in Macedonia has meant a period of particular instability in the country, while Albania continues to make progress on its key priority areas.