Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on EU enlargement. [22603/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement. As such, we have been pleased to see the renewed focus on enlargement that has been provided by the Bulgarian Presidency’s prioritising of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. We are glad to see that this is set to continue under the Austrian Presidency.

We believe that enlargement is a transformative driver for stability and peace, and that it will enhance stability and economic growth in the while also shoring up security on the borders of Europe. Providing the countries of the Western Balkans with a credible membership perspective, which the EU has done this year in its Strategy on the Western Balkans, is therefore essential. We should welcome those countries that are ready to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership.

I welcome yesterday’s General Affairs Council Conclusions which set out the progress in relation to Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Turkey. These Conclusions reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to enlargement, and its continued belief that it represent a strategic investment in peace, democracy, prosperity, security and stability in Europe.

Ireland has been a strong supporter of opening negotiations and we are pleased that the General Affairs Council which took place yesterday was able to reach agreement regarding setting out the path towards opening accession negotiations in June 2019 with both Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The Taoiseach and Minister McEntee engaged with our EU and Western Balkan counterparts at the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 17 May and I was pleased to host my Albanian counterpart here last month. From this engagement, it is clear that while challenges remain to be tackled in all countries, the accession process is the best tool to promote reform in the region, while also consolidating democracy and regional stability in the interest of Europe as a whole.

We share the EU’s view that considerable work remains to be done in all countries before accession can occur. Conditionality cannot be compromised and all criteria must be met. Comprehensive reforms are needed in crucial areas in each country, most notably on the rule of law, fundamental rights and good governance. Economic reform also requires progress.

This is why the EU-Western Balkans Summit was important. In the Summit Declaration, the EU pledged unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans, promising to strengthen and intensify its engagement at all levels to support the region's political, economic and social transformation.

The Summit Declaration and associated Priority Agenda set out six flagship initiatives in the areas of rule of law, security and migration, socio-economic development, connectivity, Digital Agenda, and good neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans.

It is our hope that implementation of the initiatives in the Summit Declaration will lead to deeper continued engagement with the Western Balkans.