Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the EU’s enlargement projects. [4458/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries.

There are currently eight recognised candidates for membership of the European Union: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Georgia and Kosovo are recognised as potential candidates by the EU.

The EU officially launched accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in July 2022. This progress was a welcome development, as it sent an important signal that the EU remains serious about enlargement.

Candidate status was granted to Ukraine and Moldova in June 2022 and to Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2022, on the understanding that key reforms are undertaken in a number of areas. 

The EU is encouraging greater reform efforts in Serbia and Montenegro to accelerate their accession paths, particularly in relation to rule of law and good governance. Serbia’s non-alignment with the EU common position relating to Russia is of concern. Accession negotiations with Türkiye have largely stalled due to backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights.

Kosovo and Georgia have formally submitted applications for membership and are recognised as potential candidate countries. Further reforms will be required in both before granting of candidate status can be considered. Progress in concluding an agreement that normalises relations between Kosovo and Serbia will also be important, if the European perspectives of both countries are to be advanced.

Ireland will continue to strongly support the EU enlargement process and offer any practical assistance it can to candidate and potential candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations to the EU.