Bernard Durkan
Ceist:131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent if any to which European enlargement is progressing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21124/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 May 2024
Ceisteanna (131)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability, peace and prosperity in candidate countries.
I am pleased to report that there continues to be positive momentum on EU enlargement. On 08 November 2023, the European Commission published its annual package of enlargement reports, which assess the progress made by candidate countries to date in readiness for EU membership. The reports indicated that Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia continue to be the countries most prepared for EU membership, although progress on reforms over the previous 12 months was greatest in Ukraine, Moldova and Albania. There was regrettable backsliding in some areas by Türkiye.
In December 2023, based on the Commission’s reports, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and to grant candidate status to Georgia, on the basis that all three countries complete some specified additional reforms. In March 2024, the European Council decided to take work forward on the adoption of negotiating frameworks with Ukraine and Moldova, and to open accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, based on further evidence of reform progress in all three countries.
The EU accession process requires all candidate countries to demonstrate their ability to align with EU values, as well as with the EU acquis. The EU has developed a range of tools to support candidate countries in this regard. We welcomed the recent establishment of the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which involves a €6 billion investment to bring the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the EU, accelerate accession-related reforms, and boost the regional economy.
As Ireland, we are also taking bilateral steps to support and prepare for EU enlargement. In March, Government announced the opening of new Embassies in three candidate countries, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Moldova. These new Embassies will allow us to increase our engagement with partners in these future EU Member States, Under Budget 2024, we have also established a fund to offer practical assistance to candidate countries to better support them on their paths to EU membership.
Ireland will continue to strongly support the enlargement process and offer any practical assistance we can to candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations to the EU.