Jim O'Keeffe
Question:245 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the Czech Republic to be a member of the European Union; and the main outstanding issues to be resolved prior to its accession. [2167/01]
Vol. 529 No. 1
245 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the Czech Republic to be a member of the European Union; and the main outstanding issues to be resolved prior to its accession. [2167/01]
The Czech Republic has made substantial progress in its negotiations and preparations for EU membership. Like all of the "Luxembourg candidates", which began negotiations in 1998, the Czech Republic has opened all chapters for negotiations with the exception of the institutions chapter. Of those 29 chapters opened, the Czech Republic has completed negotiations provisionally in 13 chapters. The successful completion of the Intergovernmental Conference, and the decisions at the Nice European Council on enlargement, have added considerable momentum to the negotiation process, which should see substantive progress by the Czech Republic together with the other candidates in the months ahead.