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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 5

Written Answers. - EU Enlargement.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

47 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to remarks by Commissioner Neil Kinnock wherein he described EU enlargement as very distant; his views on whether this statement reflects the views of the European Commission as a whole; the substantial progress, if any, he expects to be made on outstanding issues at the forthcoming summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18296/95]

I understand the Deputy's question as referring to remarks made by Commissioner Kinnock in Berkshire in England on Friday, 24 November. I gather that these remarks were intended to be private and were unscripted, but I have seen newspaper reports of them, together with reports of the response of Commission President Santer which was delivered shortly afterwards.

It is hard to see what purpose would be served by my commenting on what seem to be the personal views of an individual member of the European Commission. In so far as the attitude of our Government to the issue of enlargement is concerned, it is well-known that we are both open and positive to the accession of new member states and this attitude is reflected in the conclusions of successive meetings of the European Council. We believe that enlargement is necessary to consolidate peace and stability in Europe and that it can bring greater prosperity to existing and prospective member states, provided that the overall conditions underpinning enlargement and resulting from accession negotiations are right.
With regard to the forthcoming meeting of the European Council at Madrid, it is expected that the Council will consider the issue of enlargement against the background,inter alia, of a number of important studies which were requested of the European Commission at last year's Council at Essen.
These include an analysis of the effects of enlargement in the context of the Union's present policies and of their future development, a study on the means of developing relations in the field of agriculture between the European Union and the associated countries of Eastern Europe, and an interim report on the implementation of the pre-accession strategy adopted at Essen in respect of those countries.
The Commission's reports, and particularly its reports on agriculture and the common policies, represent an important contribution to the Union's assessment of the implications of future enlargement. This assessment is ongoing. It will continue after the European Council and while the Intergovernmental Conference, which must be completed before enlargement negotiations begin, is under way. The role of the Commission will be especially important in the assessment process. In particular it will have the task of preparing formal opinions on applications for membership and of producing comprehensive proposals for the development of Union policies and their financing in the perspective of enlargement.
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