Noel Davern
Ceist:34 Mr. Davern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, which have taken place and any agreements reached during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in relation to further EU expansion. [23916/96]
Written Answers. - EU Expansion.
As set out in the statement on the priorities for the Irish Presidency, which was published at the beginning of our term in office, our Presidency has been committed to the development of relations with the countries that have applied for membership of the Union. This priority reflects the decisions taken at the Madrid meeting of the European Council in December 1995, which confirmed that the next round of enlargement negotiations will commence six months after the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference, taking its results into account. The European Council at Madrid also asked the Commission to expedite preparation of its opinions on the applications for membership of the Union by the Associated States of central and eastern Europe so that they can be forwarded to the Council as soon as possible after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference.
With a view to preparing for enlargement, the European Council at Madrid also charged the Commission with preparing a number of studies and reports. The Commission was asked to take its evaluation of the effects of enlargement on Community policies further, to prepare a composite paper on enlargement, and a detailed analysis of the European Union's financing system in order to submit, immediately after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference, a communication on the future financial framework of the Union as from 31 December 1999, having regard to the prospect of enlargement. This week's meeting of the European Council in Dublin will provide a valuable opportunity to its members to take stock of progress by the Commission in the preparation of these opinions and reports.
Given that we are now in the lead-in period to the opening of accession negotiations, and given that the work of the Intergovernmental Conference is ongoing, the emphasis during the Irish Presidency with regard to the enlargement process has been placed on the continuing process of developing the Union's relations with the Associated States. In this regard the efficient and effective management of the day-to-day aspects of the Union's relations with the Associated States has also been an important goal. The successful conduct of the Intergovernmental Conference, with a view to its concluding, on schedule, at the Amsterdam meeting of the European Council in June next year has, of course, been central to maintaining momentum towards enlargement.