2 Mar 2012, 14:10
The Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs Dominic Hannigan today welcomed the decision to formally grant Serbia candidate status of the European Union.
The decision was made at yesterday’s European Council meeting, following three years of intensive negotiations between Brussels and Belgrade.
Deputy Hannigan said: “The EU Affairs Committee welcomes the historic decision by European leaders to grant Serbia candidate status.
“This hard-won decision is a testament to Serbia’s peaceful transition from the Milosevic dictatorship to democracy and is a direct result the current government’s cooperation with the International Criminal Court in The Hague. While serious concerns around Serbia’s approach to Kosovo remain, this decision increases the EU’s influence in ensuring Serbia’s engagement in resolving outstanding concerns.”
“Coming a mere thirteen years after the NATO bombing of Belgrade, the decision underlines enlargement as one of the European Union’s most successful policies. In the midst of the continuing financial and economic crisis, this is a timely reminder that common European values of peace, human rights and democracy still hold considerable influence in states transitioning to democracy.”
“Coupled with the positive Croatian vote for EU Membership last month, The Committee hopes that these developments will consolidate progress towards a stable Western Balkans region. Reflecting on the stirring address to the Committee by Lord Ashdown in January, the Committee believes that the EU should wield its considerable leverage more proactively in the region, such as attaching more conditionality to large amounts of EU money flowing to capitals in the region.”
Have your say: The EU Affairs Committee invites submissions from those who wish to make known their views on the EU Fiscal Treaty and its implications for Ireland. View more and make a submission: http://bit.ly/xMg2nJ
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
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Committee on European Union Affairs Membership
Deputies
Dominic Hannigan, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Mick Wallace, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly