Noel Davern
Question:34 Mr. Davern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, which have taken place and any agreements reached during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in relation to further EU expansion. [23916/96]
Vol. 472 No. 6
34 Mr. Davern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, which have taken place and any agreements reached during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in relation to further EU expansion. [23916/96]
As set out in the statement on the priorities for the Irish Presidency, which was published at the beginning of our term in office, our Presidency has been committed to the development of relations with the countries that have applied for membership of the Union. This priority reflects the decisions taken at the Madrid meeting of the European Council in December 1995, which confirmed that the next round of enlargement negotiations will commence six months after the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference, taking its results into account. The European Council at Madrid also asked the Commission to expedite preparation of its opinions on the applications for membership of the Union by the Associated States of central and eastern Europe so that they can be forwarded to the Council as soon as possible after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference.