Bernard Durkan
Question:447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which European enlargement continues to be encouraged strategically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23422/22]
View answerTuesday, 10 May 2022
Questions (447, 448, 450, 451)
Bernard Durkan
Question:448. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position in relation to new applications for European Union membership; the number outstanding for specific period; when a decision is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23423/22]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:450. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if associate membership of the European Union is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23426/22]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:451. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position in regard to the admission to the European Union of Member States of the western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23425/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 447, 448, 450 and 451 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.
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 EU, and has indicated an intention to submit a formal application for EU membership during 2022.
On 28 February, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine submitted a letter to the Presidency formally applying for membership of the European Union, in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty. In light of the grave situation facing Ukraine, President Zelenskyy requested that the application be treated under ‘a special procedure’. Three days later Georgia and Moldova followed suit, submitting their letters of application on 03 March.
Currently, EU relations with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are set within the framework of the Eastern Partnership. ‘Association Agreements’ and ‘Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements’ (DCFTAs) are in place with all three aimed at promoting deeper political ties, stronger economic links and ensuring respect for common values. While some progress has been made over the years towards closer integration with the EU, progress on reforms has been slow overall.
Ukraine’s application was discussed at the informal European Council meeting on 10 & 11 March. This resulted in the ‘Versailles Declaration’, which acknowledged the “European aspirations and the European choice of Ukraine”. The European Council also invited the Commission to submit its opinion on all three applications in accordance with the established procedures, while noting that “Ukraine belongs to our European family”. The European Council meeting on 24-25 March again reaffirmed Ukraine’s European perspective and reiterated its invitation to the Commission to submit its opinion in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties. It is not clear at this stage when the Commission will submit its formal Opinion on all three applications though the analysis required understandably takes time and in the past, it has taken up to three years for the Commission to revert to the Council with their opinion.
Ireland strongly supports the European perspective of the Eastern Partnership’s associated partners, Ukraine, Moldova & Georgia. Ukraine in particular has made impressive progress in aligning with EU standards and deserves recognition for their efforts to defend European values. We have come together with a grouping of other EU Member States who are similarly strongly supportive of Ukraine’s application, with a view to providing political and practical assistance in support of Ukraine’s European perspective. The EU should encourage and support Ukraine’s application, though we should not minimise the steps that remain to be taken. There is no provision at present for any kind of ‘associated membership’ for those countries submitting formal membership applications.
In the Western Balkans, current issues relating to the enlargement process largely revolve around the commitment to opening Inter-Governmental Conferences (IGCs) with Albania and North Macedonia. The main obstacle to agreement is Bulgaria’s continued objection to moving ahead with opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia due to bilateral difficulties related to the Macedonian language, the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia, and the implementation of the 2017 Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations. Discussions are continuing between the Bulgarian and North Macedonian governments to resolve the issues and both countries are to be commended for their efforts to promote closer cooperation and improved relations.
The EU is continuing to encourage greater reform efforts on the part of Serbia and Montenegro, particularly in relation to Rule of Law and promotion of good governance. Serbia’s non-alignment with the EU common position relating to Russia has also been of concern recently.
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.
Question No. 448 answered with Question No. 447.
Question No. 449 answered with Question No. 446.