Austin Currie
Question:27 Mr. Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that there will be delays in allowing Finland, Sweden and Austria join the European Union.
Written Answers. - EU Enlargement.
Phil Hogan
Question:45 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that there will be delays in allowing Finland, Sweden and Austria join the European Union.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:66 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views in regard to the time-scale and the extent of EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Nora Owen
Question:89 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that there is a problem with the scheduled time for EU enlargement by Sweden, Finland and Austria.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 45, 66 and 89 together.
Accession negotiations opened in February 1993 with Sweden, Finland and Austria and with Norway two months later.
The special meeting of the European Council in October set the beginning of March as the target date for concluding these negotiations. This is to facilitate a timetable under which the ratification process both in the applicant countries and in the current member states can be completed in time for accession to take place on 1 January 1995.
Considerable progress has been made in the negotiations over recent months. As Deputies will be aware, together with Minister of State Tom Kitt I attended negotiating sessions with each of the applicant countries on 21 and 22 February and again last week-end from 25 February to late yesterday evening.
While the process will continue in the coming days, the Council agreed that in substance the negotiations with Austria, Sweden and Finland are complete. A number of issues which are still open in the negotiations with Norway will be taken up again on 8 March.
A wide range of issues has been involved in these negotiations. Some issues are common to all the applicants, although with variations in each case. In this category fall our discussions on regional policy, adaptation to the Common Agricultural Policy, and contributions to the Union Budget. Other issues are of particular interest to one or other of the applicants. For example, Norway has special concerns over fisheries and Austria over road transit.
Agreement has been concluded substantially with three of the candidate countries and significant progress has been made with a fourth candidate. In my assessment, we have every reason to hope that the process of consulting the European Parliament and signing and ratifying the agreement can begin next week. This will involve referendums in the applicant countries later this year.
A successful conclusion has been the goal towards which the Irish delegation has worked consistently from the outset of the negotiations. We have paid close attention to the implications for Ireland of the European Union's negotiating position in each of the many areas involved, but while doing this, and ensuring that our particular interests are protected, we have also worked hard for an overall agreement. Accession to the European Union by Sweden, Finland, Austria, and Norway will be in our national interest, in the interest of the European Union as a whole, to which we remain firmly committed, and — in my personal opinion — in the interest of the applicant countries themselves.
On the final completion of the negotiations, after assent by the European Parliament and signature by the member states I will be bringing legislation before the Oireachtas to amend the European Communities Act. At the same time I will submit to the Dáil for consideration a Resolution approving the Accession Treaty.
Deputy Durkan's question suggests a perspective broader than the current round of enlargement negotiations.
The Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 agreed that associated countries in central and eastern Europe that so desire shall become members of the European Union once they are able to satisfy the necessary economic and political requirements. The European Council underlined that the Union's own capacity to absorb new members, while maintaining the momentum of European integration, is another important consideration.
Turkey, Malta and Cyprus have also applied for membership of the European Union. The General Affairs Council last October mandated the Commission to undertake specific new forms of consultation with both Malta and Cyprus.
On the basis that negotiations with all EFTA applicants are concluded in the near future, the European Union's first priority will be the ratification process and then — given a yes vote in each of the applicant countries—the integration of the new members. The European Union's agenda also includes the Maastricht Review Conference scheduled for 1996 at which issues fundamental to the future direction of the Union are likely to be raised. It is difficult at this stage to offer any precise estimate as to the timing of further enlargement negotiations.