Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 3

Written Answers. - Enlargement of European Community.

Phil Hogan

Question:

42 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, that has been made towards the enlargement of the Community in respect of the negotiations that are presently taking place with Austria, Sweden and Finland; when these negotiations are likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

A meeting of the Conference on Accession to the European Union took place on 5 October in Luxembourg with each of the EFTA applicant countries: Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway. This was the third meeting of the conference held with each of the applicants at ministerial level. The conference recorded significant progress in the negotiations.

For the purposes of these negotiations, the areas of Community law to which the applicant countries must adapt has been divided into 29 Chapters. Since the opening of negotiations at the beginning of this year the Conference on Accession has taken up 22 of the 29 Chapters for negotiation. Furthermore, the examination of secondary legislation has been completed for all Chapters apart from those relating to the provisions of the Treaty on European Union.

Of the 29 Chapters, negotiations have been completed on nine Chapters with Austria, ten Chapters with Sweden, eight Chapters with Finland and seven chapters with Norway. In addition, significant progress has been recorded in other Chapters with each of the applicant countries.

The Copenhagen European Council on 21-22 June 1993, set the target date for accession to the European Union of the EFTA negotiating candidates at 1 January 1995. This target date implies that the negotiations must be complete by the end of 1993, or early in 1994, to allow sufficient time for ratification procedures to be finalised by the applicant countries, the union and the member states.

Ireland is in favour of a speedy conclusion of the enlargement negotiations which will allow accessions to the European Union by the target date of 1 January 1995.