Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which efforts continue to be made to foster and encourage stability and European Union membership in the western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4177/22]
View answer237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which efforts continue to be made to ensure continued peace and stability in the western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4187/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 237 together.
Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries and are concerned at both the increasing disillusionment with the enlargement process in the Western Balkans and the resultant decline in public perception of the EU in the region.
For this reason, it was welcome that the Declaration adopted at the EU-Western Balkans Summit last October contained a clear signal of the continuing priority afforded by the EU to the Enlargement dossier and to achieving early progress in advancing the accession process.
There are five recognised candidates for membership of the European Union: Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Serbia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are recognised as potential candidates by the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina has formally submitted an application for membership, while Kosovo has a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union.
The European Commission presented Member States with the main findings and recommendations of the seven country reports on 19 October in last year’s ‘Enlargement Package’. This was followed up with the agreement of Council Conclusions on the Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process in December. While situations vary from country to country, limited progress in the enlargement process overall was noted due to both the impact of the pandemic and ongoing delays and blockages in the enlargement process.
While technically remaining the two front-runners in terms of EU accession, there is general agreement within both Council and Commission that both Serbia and Montenegro need to increase the dynamism in their reform agenda. Serbia needs to accelerate its reforms regarding fundamental rights and the rule of law, and make significant progress in the normalisation of relations with Kosovo. A recent positive development has been the holding of a referendum on 16 January which saw a number of amendments to the Serbian constitution relating to the judiciary system approved. In Montenegro, more intensive efforts in relation to freedom of expression, media freedom and the fight against corruption and organised crime are required. We have called for intensified dialogue among all parties in Montenegro to address those issues currently giving rise to tensions within the country
Both North Macedonia and Albania have clearly fulfilled the conditions necessary to commence accession negotiations. In our view, shared almost unanimously within the Council, the negotiating frameworks for both countries should be agreed and Intergovernmental Conferences held as soon as possible to start the accession process. We continue to advocate for this at EU meetings and working groups.
Kosovo is a potential candidate for membership of the EU. The Commission’s report on Kosovo in 2021 noted that the political situation there remains challenging. Rule of law, judicial reform, public administration reform, organised crime and normalisation of the relationship with Serbia are just some of the areas that must be comprehensively addressed in order for Kosovo to advance on its European path.
The EU has clearly set out the fourteen priority areas for reform which need to be progressed, if Bosnia and Herzegovina is to advance on its European path. We call on all parties and leaders within Bosnia and Herzegovina to avoid further delay in progressing this urgent reform agenda, including in the areas of electoral and constitutional law.
Ireland will continue to support strongly the enlargement process and offer any practical assistance it can to candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations to the EU. It is our firm belief that it is through EU membership that peace and security can best be ensured throughout the Western Balkans.
