Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on Ireland's support for the continued enlargement of the European Union; the process being followed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66243/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is 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. The change in geopolitical circumstances following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine further demonstrated the strategic importance of the enlargement process for the EU.

There are currently nine candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Kosovo is considered a ‘potential candidate country’.

The EU accession process follows the “Copenhagen Criteria” rules. Under this, candidate countries are first required to reach the necessary EU standards which cover six thematic clusters, containing thirty-three negotiating chapters in total. Countries can only join the EU when they have fulfilled these criteria. Each EU member state must then ratify membership for that candidate country.

Adherence to the Rule of Law is at the core of EU enlargement policy. As part of the enlargement process, candidate countries must meet relevant requirements under the so-called “Fundamentals” cluster, which includes adhering to relevant standards, including those relating to the judiciary, fundamental rights and the functioning of democratic institutions.

Earlier this month, the Commission published its annual Enlargement reports, which outline the readiness of each candidate and potential candidate country for EU membership. These confirmed that the enlargement process is now moving faster than at any stage in the last 15 years. Since the beginning of 2024, twelve inter-governmental conferences have taken place, six with Albania, four with Montenegro and one each with Ukraine and Moldova. On 17 November, Albania opened their last negotiating cluster, which is a significant achievement.

Ireland will use our upcoming EU Presidency in the second half of 2026 to facilitate progress towards EU membership for all candidate and potential candidate countries which have met the necessary criteria. Progressing a merit-based enlargement policy is the EU’s best tool to ensure the prosperity and security of our continent.