Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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258. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Serbia, Montenegro, FYR Macedonia and Iceland becoming members of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38749/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is a strong supporter of the accession process, viewing it as a transformative driver for peace, stability and prosperity. We support the aspirations of the countries involved in the accession process, including Serbia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Ireland welcomed the publication by the Commission of the latest annual progress reports on each of the five candidate and two potential candidate countries on 9 November. The detailed reports give a ‘state of play’ assessment on the preparations for Union membership in each accession country across the acquis communautaire and set out guidelines on reform priorities.

Serbia was granted candidate status for EU membership in March 2012, and accession negotiations were opened in 28 June 2013, during the Irish EU Presidency. To date, four chapters have been opened, including the two ‘fundamentals first’ chapters on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights (Chapter 23) and on Justice, Freedom and Security (Chapter 24) in July of this year. It is expected that further chapters will be opened before year-end. Serbia has finalised rule of law action plans, reached key agreements with Kosovo, and been pro-active in developing regional co-operation with its neighbours. It has also embarked on an ambitious economic reform agenda.

We are pleased with the substantial progress made by Serbia so far on its European path, and we agree with the Commission’s report that there is still a need for further reform, including in the areas of public administration and the business environment. The Serbian government has demonstrated their commitment to EU accession at political level by making it a priority goal in their programme for government.

Montenegro was granted candidate status in 2010. Accession negotiations began in 2012, and 24 chapters have been opened. The Commission’s report recognises the considerable work on alignment with and preparation for the implementation of the acquis, which has already taken place. It acknowledges the constructive role which the country plays in enhancing regional cooperation. Advances in the rule of law have been made and the legal and institutional framework have been strengthened. The report recommends that Montenegro should now focus on its economic and monetary policy.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as it is called in the EU negotiations (though we use the name “Macedonia” in our bilateral relations) has been a candidate country since 2005. However, the opening of accession negotiations has been stalled, first as a result of difficult bilateral issues with neighbours and then by the ongoing political crisis. It is now contingent on the continued implementation of the PrŽino agreement (2015) and substantial progress in the implementation of the "Urgent Reform Priorities". Having been postponed twice already this year, elections are now scheduled to take place on 11 December. We hope they will be free and fair and that the renewed opportunity they represent for the country to mitigate the divisive political culture in Macedonia and enhance its capacity to implement much needed reforms will be seized.

Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 and was granted candidate status in 2010. However, negotiations were halted after elections in 2013 and in March 2015 the then government requested that "Iceland should not be regarded as a candidate country for EU membership". Elections took place in October 2016 and no change in Iceland’s EU aspirations has yet been signalled by the new government.

The Commission’s progress reports are still being examined in detail at official level and it is hoped that Ministers will be able to reach agreement on an appropriate response at the General Affairs Council on 13 December. For the sake of completeness, the countries which will be under consideration, in addition to those mentioned in the Deputy’s question, are Turkey and Albania (candidate countries), together with Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo (potential candidates).