John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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201. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the accession negotiations ongoing between the European Union and countries granted candidate status who wish to join the union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27454/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has always been, and will remain, 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. Furthermore, the change in geopolitical circumstances brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighted the importance of the enlargement process for the EU.

There are currently nine candidate countries for EU membership, and one potential candidate country.

Albania was granted candidate status in 2014. Accession negotiations were opened in 2022. Since October 2024, Albania has opened negotiating clusters 1, 2 and 6, with cluster 3 also opened on 22 May 2025.

Bosnia-Herzegovina applied for EU membership in 2016 and was granted candidate status in 2022. Accession negotiations will be opened once they meet a number of additional criteria.

Georgia was granted candidate status in 2023, although progress on its candidacy has halted due to backsliding by the Georgian government in several areas.

Montenegro was granted candidate status in 2010. It has opened all 33 applicable negotiating chapters, and provisionally closed six negotiating chapters. Montenegro has an ambitious goal of closing all negotiating chapters by the end of 2026, and joining the EU in 2028. Ireland welcomes Montenegro's level of ambition, and we will seek to facilitate their progress during our EU Presidency in the second half of 2026.

North Macedonia opened accession negotiations in 2022. North Macedonia is required to implement the bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria before it can move to the next stage of the accession process.

Serbia applied for EU membership in 2009 and was granted candidate status in 2012. It has opened 22 of 35 applicable chapters, and provisionally closed two. Türkiye's accession negotiations have been frozen since 2019.

Ukraine and Moldova were granted candidate status in 2022, and accession negotiations for both were opened in December 2023. The screening of the acquis, a process to assess the level of compliance with EU law in Ukraine and Moldova, is ongoing. We hope to see the swift opening of negotiating cluster one with Ukraine and Moldova, and we are strongly encouraging all Member States to facilitate that progress.

Kosovo formally applied for EU membership in 2022. Their application is awaiting referral to the European Commission for assessment. Kosovo is currently considered a potential candidate country for EU membership.