Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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230. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the approach of the Serbian government in assisting Russia; whether such actions should have an impact on its EU membership application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20597/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has always been a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary requirements for membership. We firmly believe that it is through EU membership that peace and prosperity can best be ensured across our continent. We welcome recent momentum on EU enlargement, while maintaining the importance of a merit-based accession process, with alignment with EU values at the heart of the process. While Ireland supports Serbia’s EU perspective, like all candidate countries, Serbia must meet all necessary requirements for EU membership, including alignment with EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Notwithstanding recognition by the European Commission’s 2024 annual enlargement report on Serbia’s progress in many areas, including strong economic integration with the EU, this report also noted that Serbia needs, as a matter of priority, to make serious additional efforts on its alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, which Ireland supports.

In line with the EU-Serbia negotiating framework, which officially opened accession negotiations between the EU and Serbia in December 2014, Serbia is expected to align its policies towards third countries with the policies and positions adopted by the EU, under its Common Foreign and Security Policy. Candidates may not accede to the EU as a Member State until all required standards of EU Membership, as set out in the negotiating framework, are fulfilled. Serbia’s low level of alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, including in relation to its relationship with Russia, remains a serious concern. Ireland will continue to urge Serbia to increase alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, which, alongside other EU standards and requirements, is a prerequisite for EU membership.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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232. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has contacted the German authorities about the repression of a protest held outside the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin in solidarity with Palestine on 16 April 2025; if he has contacted the German authorities about their repression of the use of the Irish language at protests in the country, including arrests at the Embassy on 16 April 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20886/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, are aware of these events. I can further confirm that officials in the Irish Embassy in Berlin are engaging with the relevant German authorities on the matter.

I wish to assure the Deputy that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, stand ready to provide consular assistance, should the citizen concerned request it.

My Department, including our Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. The provision of consular assistance is a cornerstone of the work of my Department. As with all consular cases, my officials will consider each case on a case-by-case basis to determine the most appropriate advice and assistance that we can provide to Irish citizens in accordance with the Consular Assistance Charter.

The provision of consular assistance is at the request of the citizens concerned or, where the citizen cannot request such assistance, by a family or friend. As such, and until a request has been received, the Department does not directly reach out to citizens to offer assistance.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Department does not comment on the specific details of individual cases.