Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 May 2014
45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the situation in the western Balkans continues to be monitored by the international community with particular reference to the need to ensure the continuation and support of democracy and peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/14]
View answerTogether with my European Union colleagues, I follow very closely the situation in the Western Balkans. Ireland continues to support the consolidation of peace and democracy in the countries of the Western Balkans, as they introduce reforms in preparation for EU membership. The EU enlargement process is founded on the Copenhagen criteria, which reflect the EU’s founding values: peace, democracy, the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights, and a functioning market economy.
Through the enlargement process, the EU actively supports the consolidation of peace and democracy by strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring inclusive processes that support these institutions and reinforce core democratic principles and common EU values. The EU works to encourage a stronger role for civil society, as well further progress with electoral, parliamentary and public administration reforms, including the professionalisation and depoliticisation of the civil service. For example, in the period 2007-2013, over €30 million pre-accession assistance has been provided to enhance the capacity of such institutions as national parliamentary assemblies, ombudsmen and national audit bodies. In the same period, civil society organisations were supported with almost €190 million from the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA), as well as by over €35 million from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
We in Ireland also remain fully engaged with the Western Balkans region. My colleague, the Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, has recently visited both Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to express our continued support for their efforts to advance on their respective EU paths. Both he and I also met with the Foreign Minister of Kosovo when he visited Dublin in January. We discussed the progress that Kosovo has made as well as the challenges that remain and assured him of our on-going support for his country.
Together with our EU counterparts, Ireland will remain fully engaged while supporting the countries of the Western Balkans as they undertake the necessary reforms, especially democratic reforms, and prepare for EU membership.
