Bernard Allen
Question:181 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he envisages that the next phase of EU enlargement will be completed. [6559/03]
Written Answers - EU Enlargement.
Accession negotiations with ten countries were concluded at the Copenhagen European Council on 12-13 December 2002. An Accession Treaty will be signed at heads of state or Government level in Athens on 16 April. The Treaty will fall to be ratified by member states and the acceding countries with a view to the accession of new member states on 1 May 2004, during the Irish Presidency of the EU.
The accession of Bulgaria and Romania is viewed by the Union as part of the same inclusive and irreversible enlargement process. The accession negotiations which are under way with these countries will continue on the basis of the same principles that have guided the accession negotiations so far. Each candidate country will be judged on its merits. The objective is to welcome Bulgaria and Romania as members of the EU in 2007.
Turkey was granted candidate status at the Helsinki European Council in 1999. The Copenhagen European Council in December 2002 decided that if the Council in December 2004 decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations with it without delay.